Tackle it Tuesday

The Salvation Army Guys came today and hauled off a good amount of toys and home school books and many other things.
A garden center for me
and...

a shop for my Beloved
<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>
There is a lot to do yet,
I know he will be surprised.
Just one more hour and he will be home.
I am so excited and dusty and tired:)

updated

On Friday evening we received an automated phone call from the
Salvation Army,
they would be in our area on Tuesday to collect. They asked if we might have donations. OH YES! We have donations!
That phone call set the schedule for today and tomorrow.
Today I set to task.
Filling both the recycle can and the black trash can.
Many, many toys were collected as I went through the collections boxed and also scattered on the garage floor.
My kids had found a new place to play.
Monday Morning
Steve had to shut down the party on Saturday last so I could get Dove to her engagement in a hurry. So left for me was the large box of decorations and such to put away and stow into the rightful places.
I am done with this mess!
Between medical appointments, dental implant, IEP"s for Dash, Death and life I had yet to get to do this job.
It has awaited my attention for almost 7 months!

Dash had found all of his cars and in the process get into boxes of toys and scatter them.

Monday mid-day

All of this was separated to be incorporated into the house.
The camper has also been emptied. Many of the things from it are going into the kitchen to be made use of.

In a way it looks little different, yet all those boxes are books that I am not able or willing to hurt myself lifting. Soon they will come back into the house and placed in the prospective book shelves. So many things to weed through and sort out, but I took a lot out of it today.

See the empty boxes...Those are toys there to sort.
Lunch came and this task will be worked on more in the morrow.

So far several boxes of things going out...folks will find uses for them and the Salvation army an income from them. There are many things on the side of the truck as well.
Ya, lot done here.

Mid afternoon
forced rest :)
That big box is those toys to sort. All of the other boxes are in the house to be unloaded onto the book shelves that are hungry to absorb them.

This much clear, many many boxes of good books.

That is all books or photo albums or my novel stuff.

Monday and Tuesday and many more days....
The Garage of
"we are moving...No, we are not moving..."
Eight months later...

Enough!
This is being forced to the top of the priority bubble.

yes!
6 pm Monday!
Car in the garage!
Other side tomorrow.
Pain Pill tonight!
:)

The Simple Woman's Daybook~March 9th Entry

The Simple Woman's Daybook~March 9th Entry

For Today...

Outside my window... sun and clouds, March winds blowin and birds singing once again

I am thinking... Man, cleaning the garage is hard work. My back hurts and it is just lunch time. I have yet to deep going on it a few more hours.:)
From the learning rooms... A meal plan calorie count and exercise plan will begin to be readied for the care I desire to give to my body. Books in boxes in the garage call to me. I peeked at a few quilting books and sewing ideas. Now I want my books out of those boxes.

I am thankful for...so many things. Provision for relationship and supplies. Support in the long haul of life. a semi clean kitchen awaiting the mess of bread baking, yogurt making and supper fixing this afternoon.
From the kitchen... few dishes, just the lemon aide pot. tools to do my tasks await me.

I am wearing... very dust dirty blue jeans and a t shirt with Tweedy bird in varied emotions. high energy shirt in bright yellow.
My hair tied back hard as just now the elastic actually broke as I am typing. A head band holds it back from my face. Dusty body from being out cleaning the garage all morning.

I am reading... nothing today.

I am hoping...a clean garage and unpacking the rest of the books into the shelves. A season at home for a week or two to rest up and catch up around here.

I am creating... a little chaos before organizing the books.

I am hearing... sweet silence.

Around the house... life is full . House is somewhat nice and the garden is growing along.
The art/sewing studio is pinning my time talents and attention.

One of my favorite things... An organized home.

A few plans for the rest of the week... chores of laundry, unpacking boxes, studio clean up and projects to think of. Bake bread, make yogurt. Dash to St Joe's for hearing screening and new ear molds for his hearing aides, kids have braces check for Dash new bands for Dove.
Short day on Wednesday. A birthday party to take Dove to on the weekend.
I also want to investigate some ideas for the spring break activities next week.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
A sweet kid she got to have her turn first. She is just too cute.

***********************

Meal Plan Monday

Cherryholmes Concert today in Chandler AZ

Cherryholmes hot link check out their sight good tunes!
I am getting excited to go now! We had never heard of this band before. I know we have made a real good choice. We were able to get very good tickets close to the front. This is the first concert I have been to in so many years.


My Beloved Husband and I are going to a concert to celebrate our anniversary early. We could find nothing to attend on the 20th so we choose to go to this. It is a bluegrass group. Yep, I LOVE!!!!!!good bluegrass music.
A date with my man!!!!Oh this is going to be so nice.
Dash had a great Bday thanks to all of you sweet well wishers.

It has been a long hard couple of weeks, but the sun is shining in many ways. I so appreciate all of your kindness. I have been learning a lot about being prepared for tragedy even though no on really can expect that of our selves. Keeping on the peace is a real important part of it. My sandel literally broke and I tripped a bit on this experience. I thought it proper who the timely the shoe breaking at the tongue....It was a nice pair of Merrels. The never break! Yet they did as did I. Under a pressure of stress it can and does happen. Funny thing about a shoe breaking at the tongue, you can not really fix it. That is the stress point. Just like the stress points of our lives it is in the tongue that the breaks can never really be fixed. You know it is the tongue that is a vital part of peace. Yet it is attached to the whole. The stress that effects the whole comes out on the tongue.

So A vital lesson learned. Without knowledge we perish so learning from my mistakes is a good thing.

I will need to just toss those shoes , even if I do try to glue them they will be week at the tongu, never really trust worthy. Just for show. So it is that I will have to toss out the error of mine own tongue and go one. Not wanting to live just for show. No sence in show, pride comes before a fall. I do not desire a fall of course.

I will now simply tend to my own affairs and tasks and duties. I have a wonderful role as wife, mother and friend. Although the forgetting is a problem and the stress stuff. I am not willing to lay down to it.

Yesterday at the park a wonderful woman who I know both professionally and a bit personally. Attended my sons birthday party. She mentioned last years birthday party for Dash I had no recall of knowing her before this year. I was amazed , a bit concerned about her being hurt by my seaming distance. Yet I knew it was not my heart toward her and that It is just the way it is going to be. One day perhaps I may have her to coffee and explain. I have to become at peace that what I may appear to be is not who I am and to many I will never get the chance to explain that. that, I have to let go. I will not become worse , that is a joy. It is not dementia that is a huge relief. My kids just have a weird mom. Well so do most :) in one way or another. HAHAHA

Sports theme Birthday cake

The ball is two 8 inch rounds one trimmed flat and the other over filled on purpose to then trim round after it cooled. The filling in between the layers is Lemon tofu pudding.

Using a basket tip wide flat I laid frosting then after laying it, I smoothed it out using and oiled long blade. The oiling kept the frosting from sticking to the blade.
Set the black lines with a number 7 round tip.

Frosted the football with a long blade and edged up to the basket ball with care.
Used a basket weave tip wide on reverse for a smooth line.
The string on the football is a narrow basket tip on reverse.
Lettering in done black with a number three and the highlight with a number 2 tip.

Happy Birthday son!

birthday and home days

Finished up all the frosting night before last so as to be able to take it a bit easier yesterday.

The children's bus driver was so thoughtful. She called me over to the bus and gifted me with a very thoughtful card.
I have yet to acknowledge Steve's brother and sister in law who were so kind as to call us and leave a sweet loving message of condolences.
My soul is calming and the process continuing in all of this.
I so faltered in keeping peace in all of this.
It can be so hard to consider others feeling when my own were so over powering in my grief.
I owe several folks an apology I am sure.

Steve's folks came yesterday for a brief birthday visit.
Dash was so thrilled to get a treasure that pleased him so.
They even thought to get a collection storage box.
It was really nice to see them.
MILove gifted me with two beautiful wash clothes in that sunflower yellow.
Thank you, I love them.
She gifted me with a few little things.
They are always very thoughtful that way.
I find myself using those as pot holders often now.
I think I will sew two of them together and make a few that way.

dove came home with her art treasures and this adorable little story teller she made.
It is so beautiful!
It was so strange when she handed it to me for I love the story teller, and here my daughter has made such a beautiful one. It is solid and very sound. Fired I think.

The cup cakes were baked last night and decorated this morning.
The kids found a sparrow in the coop.
They had captured it in a towel.
I was startled when they called me to come see.
Steve tried to capture the image , but the sparrow had another plan, exit stage left!

Dove had met and exceeded her reading goal, she received two free pizza tickets for Pizza Hut.
We took the kids, Dove shared one of them with Dash.
Steve and I each got one (personal pan).
We were able to get all four for $8.01.
Dove asked a soda and I told her that this was the budget and that we would have one at home.
The young mad who was so bright and cheerful at the register (I had made comment to him of such) was walking by and offered us all a soda on him!
Wow they are $2. each!
We were gifted with $8. worth of 4 sodas.

Dash shared his quarters with Dove and they each got a sticker.
It was really wonderful seeing them be open handed with each other.

In the middle of supper to my amazement!, Dove stood up and said that she needed to go use the rest room. she is 11 years old, that was the very first time she ever just went to the rest room without having to have me right there to be with her. She walked over to the door, and (it was in sight and a single stall) went in closed the door. Then she fast as lightening" was back out of the rest room saying that it was just a "little Pee". Too Cool! She had a moment of secure independence! This is huge for her! I know that to most of you this sounds strange. Remember though this is my sweet kid who has needs that most kids do not have.
It felt so good to see her feel free and safe and independent.

Sleep came earlier last last night and for a change I had a smile to offer my sweet heart this morning. How refreshing that felt. I have been forcing them of late.
Dove is still struggling with the post nasal drip that is causing an all night cough.
I took her to the doctors she is all right.

Another day at home yesterday yielded clean floors and laundry.
Many little nice corners as well. The kids bath excepting the tub too.
Steve told me who nice it was to have me home.
It really is so very nice to begin to come home in my heart and head.
Moving back in has been a real overwhelming thing.
Chickens call, gotta go get a gift for Dash so I am off.

Thank you all for the prayers for my family, and for me too.
Remember please my sweet sister and her loss.
She has set up a memorial fund
if any one would like more information on it please e-mail me or leave a comment.
I will get the information to you.
Also my niece (her daughter) who is to deliver any day now.

I'll take these to his class this afternoon.
For now I best go get some gas for the truck and eggs to bake cakes (the hens can not keep up when I make cakes), and a gift or two for my sweet son.

Remember to be gentle with yourself today.

Thankful Thursday

Today is another day at home.
It will be good to be home.
To tend to my tasks and dwelling.
It has been so many days away from my home.
So fond is the time here.
Time without the ticket of a clock to thrust me into hyper speed.
Just time to cherish, to treasure this day.
A day of repose and prayer.
A battle over the mind and flesh.
These things that are what I do.
Those things that define my days.

A couple of weeks ago I asked Him for Lemons.
Given to us with a said abundance that gave me laughter and joy.
A very tired sore wrist as well.
(from juicing)
A freezer full of luscious juice to see us through the summer months.
Months where lemon aide is a prescription of refreshment.

Day before yesterday a dear friend arrived unexpected at my door.
She said I had been heavy in her prayers.
She did not know of the death of my nephew.
She had six or seven Myer lemons in her hands.
We laughed so when I showed her all the lemons I had to juice.
I was over joyed at those beautiful Myer lemons.
she said "these are very sweet lemons"...

Like... life with the bitter is the sweet and for that I am thankful.

Sprouted seed from the soil so full of life and promise.
This keeps me going on into the trust of a new day.
A better way.

I falter and try to stand.
Neglecting so many others I see my focus askew onto my own "I".
There is a time for everything.
For this I am thankful too.

A day

lemon juice and simple syrup for the party on Saturday. The water will be hauled into the park. It will be mixed on sight with ice.
The orange topped are for beloved lunch.
the other two jugs are for drinking over the weekend.

Next...
Of course You did not think it was going to say clean for long?????did you???

Cupcakes for friday and a cake for Dash's party on Saturday...
oh life is so full...
Frosting tonight.
the hens need to get to work on some eggs for me.
This is the cake decorating center.
It has been sometime that I have done a cake.
These are the disposable bags here within reach.

Lemon frosting is the choice between us.
so that will get prepared
1 cup solid vegetable shortening
1 cup soften butter (1/2 pound)
4 pounds of sifted powder sugar
8 table spoons soy milk
4 teaspoons flavoring (vanilla or other) today lemon is the choice.

cream butter and shortening , add vanilla, gradually add sugar one cup at a time, Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy.
Cover with a moist towel or I store mine to decorate later when I am fresh and the cake is baked and cooled

This was a fun car for Dash.