Up date on Laundry soap...

I love it! Laundry comes out clean and soft.
No need for a fabric softener.
It was so easy to make.


Laundry Soap a 1/2 cent per oz

Grow your own food!

This article makes me stop and think...
it is time we all plant a Garden

Homemaking

Its just now 11a.m here and I have just caught up enough to say hi!
Wow take a day off around here and yee haw but how much you have to do in a rush the next day!
So the soaking is in the garden trench and the timer on . dogs and chickens feed and the coop tended a bit.
Shopping list is half met with the coupons still got that to do. RX are called to two different places (one of them crediting me $30. for a rx that was suppose to be for 3 months expired in one months time) and the timer on the water in the garden just went off......and does so every 10 minuets for I am now water trench style.

Well I am having to go get Orange juice for Steve and feed for the birds. The produce guy is going to have some scrap for the birds around noon. I just did not want to get back on the ride this morning.
Matching the list with the lead ins and coupons.
I know that there are services to do this for a fee. I rather not pay the fee to get free products that they hope you get hooked on for "free". Well I shop for very specific things and with a dairy allergy it is not a good deal for us to do.
I just keep an eye out for lead ins and for coupons to go with them if I have them. I save only coupons for things that I would buy or consider buying.

Dash and I worked on his birthday order this morning and almost ran the whole morning into the ground. Poor Dove had 15 minutes to be up and out the door.
I was stunned at the speed that she made at it and did it!
I'll have Dash's bday party on the 7th and am trying to get the invites to his school before days end so he can pass them out.
This morning we found the perfect sports card in my card box.
I often pick things up on clearance and so I did these however I forgot all about it.
There they were! It is so cool when those things work out.
The perfect cards!
Only God knew what the boy would require/desire.
I think I picked those up like two years ago and they have just been in there waiting for today! The Perfect card!
Not a singular sport but a general "lets get together and have a ball" with all the types of balls on them .
Too cool!
I hope you are all doing alright.

I have been Praying for the families that have those financial stress.
The suffering of the children under that stress.
I stopped this morning in my fatigue and thought....It is hard for me and I am doing alright how hard it must be for those who can not take a break day like I had yesterday.

In James It talks about considering it all joy ...I think It gives me a good vantage of compassion to pray from.
I am not numb to the suffering of others then.
Cool how God works.

better get back to task
Break is over
Be blessed!

Thankful Thursday

Oh how wonderful...
How divine...
Slow paced morning.
A load of kitchen whites, and the aprons next..now they await me when "I" feel like it.
I might hang on the line ...or not....
Oh the delight in this cadence this time of rest. Where activity meets grace.
Where duty is kept reasonable and every moment experienced and treasured.
That is my day thus far.
Loading the dishwasher as I do...
Scubbing the sink for the pleasure of it and letting it sit to bleach out un hurried.
Even sat still and watched a half an hour of stupid TV.
Of course that was about as much as I wanted to take.
Not my cup of tea ya know.
so meandering through my home Laundry was gently (on my self) sorted and readied for the turns to come.
"Wait your turn if I choose"
I feels healing and good, right and holy.

The song over my head was loving and it has escaped me.
Resting and restoring my strength today.
What a wonderful privilege.
Dash has his 8th birthday soon.
Tinkering with ideas.
He desires a trophy.

shopping list completed.
We do end month budget wrap up tomorrow night.
I so hope we held in the goal.

Only got one egg...
The girls have these dung that look like ill formed eggs perhaps white on one part. I am somewhat concerned about them.

So Far...

The day started off with a bang, or should I Say Shatter...
The kids were great! We were dressed, packs with lunches and blankets pillows and coats, waters coffee and a breakfast cookie for me on the road.
Then after the third time I had to run in for just one more thing...
When dove slammed that door just one more time the glass (I know I knew better) saucer that had her bread and nut butter on it slid right off the hood.
Shatter!
I then ran in for the fouth time and grabbed a napkin checked the bread and it passed the no glass 10 second rule That I heard some Moms tell ablut :)
We were off!

No Surgery! for Dash!
another 5 month check and see.

He was fitted and molded for new molds for the hearing aides and we were off to sit in Obama traffic.
Yes I followed Obomas' motorcade home!
Yep! the tunnel 15 minuets!

Once I got close to home I used my "Wonder MOM" powers and used my short cut.
I used the street that happened to be the alternate street that he actually used. Cops on corner. I drove into the school 5 minutes after he drove down the street.

Dash to find out if he needs surgery in the morning

I have to leave here at 7 a.m. to take Dash to the city to St Joe Clinic. He has to find out if he needs surgery , he will also be getting new hearing aide molds. I'll take both the kids with me so Steve misses no work.
Then I will take the kids back to school and do my service in Doves' room 10-noon.
Then I need to head on over at 1p.m. to do our Mom's in Touch our intercessory prayer fellowship for our elementary school.
The kids get out a bit early on Wednesdays so I'll have time to get home then at 4p.m. our financial advisory is coming to look at what is left of our retirement.
At 7p.m. I have a session to earn $65. in a consumer consultation with a research firm. I am doing a study on carpet cleaners.
Five appointments in one very hectic day. A very long early morning drive 40 mile round trip.
service work, prayer, finance and employment all in a very full day.
Needless to say the lunches must be quickly made in the morning and sleepy kids loaded into a rig. With blanket fully dressed and fed on the road?
I need to eat too.
Wow, I had a full day today too. It is truly amazing what I am made able to do.
Almost 9 p.m. now so I'll sign off pretty soon and shower and do all the prep work. I have to find two documets to take with me in the morning. I have to do the financial review for qualifying in the morning at the hospital. I know already that our status has changed from zero out of pocket to 100% out of pocket, after insurance is billed I will then be billed a reduced medicar rate for all and any copays and all or any over an above or not covered. Insurance does not cover hearing aides for kids. So Peace be with me....
:) Finacaial at 7:30 a.m. and two kids who would rather be any where else! Oh how I hope Dash does not pull the attitude he did on me last time!

By the way President Oboma will be at the high school one block from our MIT meeting and 1/8 th mile from the elementary school.
Think traffic might be a challenge:)

I will overcome for He will cause me to be able.
The reward of a job at the nights end to help with budget is truly a gift.
$65 for 1 1/2 hours of giving my opinion. I can deal with that.
I will not be getting home until 10 p.m. by the drives end.
YEE HAW

Don't mind your prayer just one bit
:)
Please.

Tackle it Tuesday

Full day here beginning at 3a.m.
Dove is coughing and so I awoke to tend to her.

At 5:30 a.m. the dogs needed out.
It is raining gently so I donned my coat and garden boots and covered the coop.

I sit here in the silence and check up on some of you. Wanting so much to comfort the hurting friends that I love. Words are so dull and empty when wounds are deep and gaping.
So I will Pray.
Job one.

There will be lunches to make soon and children to feed and dress and usher off to school.
Bible study is iffy this morning for I am very wherry of bone, and need to take a paced day.

At mid day there is the Art Masters presentations. Throughout the afternoon. Dove has student council, so I will be hanging out at the school.
Keeping Dash interested until she is done.
Alone time with the kids.
I will need to be still inside to hear his heart and be present for him.


.....Now with Steve off and we prayed for a dear friend suffering through a divorce. We are praying for you...We love you so very dearly.

We both seance an unrest...
an unrest in the world at large. Pains of the consequences of error.
Debt and greed.
Economy stressing all over the globe.
Lives in the balance.
Fear and trembling all over the globe.

Job One...Makes every thing else pale this early morning.

Feeding the lives of chickens and dogs,
children and myself.
Getting ready and walking around the block and getting on the exercise bike.
Juicing the Lemons given to use by a neighbor
simple syrup to make
Lemon aide for the school day's end.
A meal to prepare.

The garden has been watered for me today :)

Menu Plan Monday

In the blender I made spaghetti sauce with herbs
Italian seasons
clove
cinnamon,
crushed tomato and onions (dried).
It will mull for a few days for flavor.

In the blender
3 cans of pinto (drain and rinse the beans well)
4 tbsp of melted butter (in the micro)
1- 8 oz can tomato sauce
1/3 c taco sauce
cumin
cayenne
and a bit of water.
This is a staple at my house it is made every week.
As is rice to go with it, made out of whatever broth at hand to make a rich flavored mix.

Bread for the lunches...

I left this to rise and went out to plant the peas and carrot seeds that soaked overnight.
Steve sent Dash out to tell me my dough was huge!

first rise!

set the four loafs

It came out of the oven just as I was heating a sliced chicken and the roasted garlic and potato done earlier today.
These are so good!
My big 10 pound bag had a few bad spuds, very upsetting!
So I went through them to confirm them decided to roast up half of them with a whole lot of garlic in olive oil.

These little gems...
pop the garlic out and it is the perfect spread.
The garlic mellows and gets a nutty taste.
An old man who was my neighbor in our former home, taught me this.
He was a Italian Immigrant first generation.
What a garden he had in his yard.
A simple yard but not a corner un planted with foods.

I sliced up the bread and put it in a rubber maid keeper instead of a plastic bag.
Home baked bread is tender. I find it broken often in a baggie when the kids get into it. this will keep it better.

Hike to South Mnt. Hidden Valley

Saturday we all took a Valentine's day Hike

It was a beautiful day. Perfect weather.

This was the "HOUSE" rock as the kids named it.

Then the children and Daddy Man hike a rock out crop.
I think I would of freaked out if I knew what the top of that was like.
Daddy did at one point and called them down.
Several kids were up there unattended.
They are looking down at me sitting on that wall.

The view was spectacular!

Dash was being too careless so Steve got them down.
He was too fearless on the top.
There is a gift of wisdom in fear.

Remember now he was up there with ours.

Tired and the day was getting mid afternoon we hiked out.

I thought this tree was so beautiful.
Laid down dead, yet living.
The old passing away and the living thriving.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

join us here

For Today...

Outside my window...Afternoon sun is easing to the west, wisps of clouds accent the beautiful mild temperatures. The chickens have roosted for the day. A gentle breeze is swinging the bird feeders at the window beside me. A very large choc Lab is pining the company of his family.

I am thinking... About the many things I was able to accomplish today and how very tired my body is. I am so satisfied in my labors

From the learning rooms... delphinium need to be pre chilled for best germination. So I will tend to them at a rested point. They then need to be set in a bag in the potting mix for a few weeks. Carrot seeds do best when soaked for 12 hours. Peas love to be soaked for 24 hours.
I experimented with the bread dough. I put a little sugar in with the yeast and water. Wow what a nice rise My bread is beautiful. Undergoing final rise before baking. I have learned to let it sit over night. It slices so beautifully in the morning. Just ready to make the lunches.

I am thankful for... For the presence of my best friend, the lover of my soul. I have walked intimately with my Abba Father God all day. He awoke me with a love song. He delights in the "reflection of the love that is in my eye". I had a very cathartic cry this morning. This afternoon Steve, and I belly laughed so hard that my back hurt! I feel. Today I am not numb. I am thankful that Abba reached through my hurt into my heart today.

From the kitchen... Oh Mercy! Strawberry cordial, strawberry Jam, roasted garlic and potato, Olive oil infused with thyme, marjoram, garlic and sage. Also 4 loafs of bread rising in the oven. I made spaghetti sauce for the week and the re fried bean as well. The meats for the first of the week are thawing. Three large heads of garlic have also been roasted for the menu this week.The menu is finished.

I am wearing... Jeans with earth on them, a beautiful red top that is my very favorite top. It has crystal buttons. I look really good in it!

I am reading... I will be reviewing the four master for tomorrows presentations. I will be doing the presentation to 4 classes of around 28 students. 1st ,2ND and 4Th grade levels. I have also been studying the requirements for seeds and germination. The nest thing I wish to gain more knowledge of is the companion planting of a garden as a natural pest deterrent.

I am hoping...To do a good job. Wednesday I have a job. A two hour survey about carpet cleaners it will pay $65. for 1 1/2 hours work. It is an answer to prayer for the desire to aide the budget. We made a little mistake this month and need to correct it. This will really help.
I am hoping and trying to stretch our dollar to a good yield.

I am creating... Fabric coverlets for jars , out of my Mothers towel that I inherited.
Labels for the row markers in the garden.
A bracelet that a friend asked me to re make for her. It is an old bracelet that meant a lot to her. I am going to redesign,string and put a clasp on it. Also a good compost, sounds strange perhaps , but I want to create my own dirt for the garden. It is my effort to become as self sufficient and independent as possible.

I am hearing...My husband and the children's voices as they play a computer game in the other room. There is a jet overhead.

Around the house... Loads of laundry to be sorted, a living room to tend to after the kids have had it for three days. The bread counter needs to be cleaned. Floors to sweep and wash. Carpet to be vacuumed and cleaned in the master bathroom. Piles of fabric and patterns set together in piles to complete the projects. Correspondence to finish. The lead in adds to review. Taxes to consider too. There are 65 beautiful lemons that a sweet neighbor gave to us today, I gifted her with a freshly made jar of strawberry jam.

One of my favorite things... Being soft hearted.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Art Master presentations on Tue., Wednesday I have to go to the city with Dash and see the ENT to find out if Dash may need surgery he will also get new ear molds for the aides. I will have to re qualify and will not qualify for zero out of pocket because we have had to work on overtime wages to get by right now. So it will be 100 % out of pocket after they bill our Insurance. Then I will take him back to school and work in Doves class with the learning impaired kids. Then we will have a 4 p.m. meeting at the house with our financial advisor. At 7:p.m. I will be off to do the consumer interview for the fieldwork phoenix.
Thursday is mine!
Friday is mine!
Saturday is a big play date for the "club" members. That is the kids who are all apart of the tree house dream. Steve may go on a hike with a friend. I will have the pleasure of hanging out with one of the moms. She and I so seldom get to be together.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
First rise
This will be for four loaves
That is some HAPPY YEAST!
I tried something. While the yeast was in the warm water and I was mixing the other ingredients I added a teaspoon of sugar to my yeast. I hope it works>
:)

Love is a song over your head

A song for Bobbie
by John Denver
see side bar
songs over my head

I awoke again with a song over me .
After doing the research I was able to find it.
This is sung by a woman.
It is much much more meaningful When it is Jonh Denvers' voice.
I wept this morning .
Healing tears that are so rair for me.

Gardening Sources of Specific Nutrients

Sources of Specific NutrientsMany of these fertilizers are available processed and packaged. You don't have to harvest your own. Nitrogen: bat guano, blood meal, chicken manure, cottonseed meal, fish emulsion, kelp meal, livestock manure (composted) Phosphorus: bonemeal, rock phosphate, super phosphate Potassium: granite meal, greensand, seabird guano, shrimp shell meal, sulfate of potash, wood ashes Calcium: bonemeal, chelated calcium, eggshells, limestone, oyster shells, wood ashes Boron: borax, chelated boron, manure Copper: chelated copper Magnesium: chelated magnesium, dolomitic limestone, Epsom salts Sulfur: iron sulfate, sulfur, zinc sulfate Zinc: chelated zinc, zinc sulfate Iron: chelated iron, iron sulfate

I got GOLD! He gave me GOLD!

I called my darling who has been working overtime
and pouring out his kindness to over flowing.

He answered the phone...
"Oh honey , oh how sweet of you!...

"I thank you I got it..."

He said "what.......??????"

"Oh how sweet of you thank you!"

He replied again "what for ?"

"I got the gold!"..say I

"What gold?" he enquirers with some stress to his tone

Just having fun was I but enough was enough and I said ...
"thank you for the new gold tooth".
They had just called me in early for it arrived several days before it was expected.
It is now complete the loss, surgery for the implant and the abutment and the pretty, shiny new tooth!


On the trip round the loop for the errands the health food store has now a better supply of herbs and seasonings by the once.
Needing a powder milk substitute for some recipe mixes.
The rice protein will hopefully work well. It was a better price per once than the soy powder.
My darling uses the fever few for head aches. It is the best thing he has ever found for them.
Than emergent C, is a good general supplement to help get minerals in.
Then after a fast bite of lunch I was off to the school.
Dash had a wonderful art class and then it was off to Doves room.
They were having the "V" day party.
Lots of fun and goodies.
The children rushed me for the hugs and hello's.
I just love that.
It was so wonderful to see a young man open up...he was board the last Art Masters presentation.
I had been praying for him.
He seamed distant and aloof, compared to most of the other kids.
It is often the way of a Navajo to learn a person first.
Waiting to see if the person is due respect or not.

The young (Hopi or Navajo) boy in the black.
He approached me to tell me a riddle.
He then told me the solve.
I would not let the other kids tell the solve, for it was his riddle.

This sweet kid gave me a valentine

group of girls

I worked in the art trailer,with Dash and his class first.
We studied movement theory.
I grabbed some treats from Doves party and gave them to Dash after school.

Gardening all day...can you dig it? :)

The earth is a wonderful bounty of pleasure and joy.
Simple treasure.
Dove desired to do a worm race.
I had to get out into the garden to get the foods in the earth in a timely manner.

Dash had Pie , Long John, Davey Jones.
Dove had Pinkie,Speedy, and Slippery.

Steve dug up a row for me that needed tending too.

While he dug in the sand and compose, I was tending the birds.
That is the carrot /garlic row.
Planting certain things together help provide a natural deterrent to pests.

After working in the coop and getting it all mucked (raked out and clean).
It was time to tip the compost.
Steve (yes I have permission to use his name now) well Steve worked the two plots of earth and then they were planted and the mulch scattered. Lots of work.
the children had worm races which instilled a bit more of a drive for Steve to keep digging up the carrot row.
We put sand in. I checked my soil PH in several places and it looks like we are doing pretty good at 6.5.

Steve was a bit concerned about adding the straw to the compost. We are getting way too much green though and needed to add a lot of brown.
I tip them over and get the older stup out of the bottom.
Works great. The chicken coop cleaned, the greens and the browns all in one big day.
Compost has to have a good balance.
Ours has not yet made good black earth, but in time and with a better heat in the bins it will get better.

Steve and Dash dug this up for me and we put in a lot of sand.
That is the lettuce plot. In the corner will be a cucumber soon.
Green onions between butter lettuce rows.

Compost mulch place all around the plants.
This will keep moisture in and the compost will feed the soil.

The Strawberries are very Happy!
There are several fruits on the plant.

We set in straw yesterday.

Today it was a good mulch covering.
The nice lettuce is now guarded by some stakes.This is the big "dig" of the day.
Steve turned in sand.
The earth was turned last week and then it was amended with compost and sand and bone meal.
the four hills are for the "Moon and Stars Watermelon".
It is an heirloom verity. $2.69 for 9 seeds! They better be as amazing as I have read about. It was originally found in Africa.

The other hill is cantaloupe, also a heirloom.
I am doing my best to keep to exclusively planting Heirloom varieties so that I can save my own seeds. It is also a duty to me to keep these alive and growing. The big seed companies have turned all our seeds into mules. That is that they can not produce seed that will live.
On the very end near the fence wall the old beans were removed and the wall line planted with a different type of pole bean.

It was fun to make a little river trench and get the level just right to soak the hills . Melons do not like to get wet but, they like a lot of water and heat.
The black plastic was a gift from FILove last month. He thought I might make use of them .
They sure were handy today.

So once I got the slopes right to have a good flow.
I love doing that!
Fun to flow water where you want it to go...
The straw will keep the water from evaporating as fast and keep the garden free of the all sticky mud.

The radish is happy and behind them the pole beens are up.

Behold a bean bush.
I was getting very concerned about them, they took several extra days to come along.

You can see all the newly sprouted beans up today. Nice treat for allthe hard work delights in a bit of encouragement.
Speaking of that the straw bail tomatoe crop is doing very well.
There are three of four varities up now.
This is one that is for slicing.
There is one plant with Roma's on it for sauceing.
This is the cherry tomatoes plant It has a lot of fruit and flower on it.
I spread him out a bit with a nice rap around trellis. Cllo trellis.
It is opend flat, then it is just brought back togeather at the ends. I altered it a bit. I have to keep these plants screened. My lab will eat them he did so to four plants, tomatoes and all!
My Lab decided to eat the newly planted cayanne pepper plant, dove witnessed it.
She said he quickly ran over and drank a lot of water.
Perhaps it will dissuade him.

Well I am rested now (I made Lamb burgers for supper with fresh picked lettuce. )
It is off to the hot shower!
I can dig that!