Thankful Thrusday

What a wonderful thing it is to have a husband who LOVE GOD! A man who longs for His presence...I have a wealth a treasure here on this realm here that is unmatched in that.
How sweet to long for every moment I have with him, as well as with HIM.

In the morning I have to rise and shine...yet it is by choice that I shine.
I like having that choice, feeling the warmth of making it. How awful it would be to be forced into shine. Forced to buff and polish, to rehearse and pretend. I OH I am so rich in this freedom.

I spent the most of my day de-cluttering my sewing table and cutting table. The beading desk and floor swept. Clearing this creative space I am so honored to have. Getting ready for the hot weather here is to prepare to be and do indoors.


Today a big job done.
This is grand central.
A wonderful cart that my MILove blessed me with.
It is very handy.
The white binder is my brain on steroids :)
Having a garden is a science in many types of bioligy.
So I am keeping the findings of my studies and research contained here.
I list what I have planted and where.
I am going to collect seed to continue to grow heirloom plants.
NO GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS WHERE I CAN STOP IT!
This binder has so many topics it covers
homemaking
goal setting
homemade cleaners/soaps
bread baking
composting
water harvesting
bla bla bla :}

On the cart is a place to be able to keep the binder open on a daily basis
The recipe box
the garden enciclopedia
My box of cards and also a file for each kid
Parental study, child developmtal information.
I keep my old budget sheets as well for reference


Lettuce and beans picked 4 strawberries to adorn the desert plates picked. An egg and beans.
My hens not liking the heat or perhaps needing some tender care are slowing the egg production. I must have at least 4-5 cups of cherry tomato in the bucket today...All I have need of. Spaghetti and salad tonight.

Two day harvest!


My loving children came home today in an out raged panic...a second grader who is a neighbor kid (he and his brother have been found waiting out front on several occasions) was going to be home alone for an hour because the 5 th grade brother could not come home with him. My kids were incensed!!!!!!!!! "Mom it is not alright Mom help him" ....of course I grabbed him a water. Being locked out of a house here is not comfortable, our heat is hard on a soul. As is being unattended when you are only 8 years old! I was not sure if the parent knew or not. So off we went. The child did not answer the door (a comforting thing). The neighbor nest door verified that the kid was an occupant of that house. He said he would keep an eye out for him. A police officer lives between the two homes. So off we went unable to much more than that.

To see Dash and Dove so passionate about the safety of a child thrilled me.

We went to the Roller Rink and left a deposit for Doves Un-birthday party. We are holding it for her before the school year ends this year. We have a coupon good for 30% off of the thing. Pretty cheep party. In an air conditioned place too. I had Dove make the decisions and interact with the sweet young woman. Making her responsible is so important to her abilities. It is also fun to give her the power of choice within my boundary.

Stopped to get my medication, You know that a neighborhood is a wonderful thing. For it I am so grateful. To go to a store and be known and fondly thought of. It is so wonderful. There is a wonderful, beautiful, woman who is full of light that tends the register at the pharmacy. I love exchanging light with her.

We kids and I stopped at the grocery for a gift to bring to an evening with a friend. My children amaze me. Knowing that this friend recently tried wine I though to gift her a bottle to bring something to the evening of movie watching and gab session.

As I walked down the wine isle my kids were appalled.
"Mom why would you want wine..? Your not sad...
You know mom... that it is the sadness that makes a desire for the wine Mom".
I stood astonished at the wisdom within them.
I thought of the passages the ones of the same truth.
I taught them these things over the years.
They have never said anything about wine or such, not that we have it often.
This was different though, profound in the commpasion for my friend.
I did not correct them, nor try to explain the relax therory.
I just supported the wisdom they displayed.
A much bigger lesson.
I bought some chocolate for the movie.

I am sitting here in a space that is cleaned of clutter.
Much relaxed as I darn the sock, Milky the kitty needs a stitching up, as does happy holidays
(a little dog) and empty that little basket on the floor.
Dove and Dash are listening to the story with the Daddy Man
Supper is done, left overs secured.
Me time.
I'll come and visit

needed someone to promote Eldala

I received a sweet note from my dear friend of many many a year...
She is a novelist.
Actually she and I wrote our first novel at the same time together.
She absconded with me and to me to the mountains where my novel is based.
It was a nanoproblamo project.
Well she kept true to her heart and dream and self published.
While I have yet to finish the editing phase of my novel.
I have it still in my "some day " list of things to accomplish.
Michelle is an awesome beautiful warrior woman of amazing talent.
If your in the mood for a good read that is inspirational fiction then head over her way.
Here is her blog site.
She Is a homeschooling Mother who has always kept a heart of kindness toward me.
I think you will have a hard time putting "Eldala" down.
It is captivating.
Just like it's aurtor.

Anna has decided to be my agent (sunglasses, clipboard, snapping gum, and all) and she asked me what I needed. I said I needed someone to promote Eldala and she started making a list. Guess what? You were all on the list, along with one of her stuffed animals.

Just thought I'd let you know, in case you get a phone call from a 7 year old girl, claiming to be my agent.

Michelle


http://michellegregory.blogspot.com/

my first novel

in 2007, i published a fantasy book for me and my kids. if i had to categorize it, I'd call it a YA fantasy/ adventure story with romantic elements. it's also an easy read. you can find it here at amazon. the link will also take you to reviews and a "search inside" feature.

Word Filled Wednseday

Special Exposure Wednesday.

join us here
Contrast
With having two special needs it can be a real balancing act to keep them both nurtured at the same time.
As it is in any family.
Oh how much of Dash I missed having to tend to Doves panic.
When our children (any child ) suffers it is so heart wrenching.

Tackle it Tuesday

Well it is Tuesday
and I did tackle it!
Wow four classes of kids today and oh the wonder.
One teacher allows (asks) me to sit for a good hour and a half and just converse and listen to the children.
With only three more weeks of school here this was the last Art Master Piece presentation today. The kids were over all unhappy about it being the last time for me to come.
We worked out a bit of a solution.

In the second graders class I will take my traveling easel to the class with a canvas and oils to show them the medium. I taught them how it will be for me an exercise in courage to paint before them.First time for everything.

The next class I presented to the fourth graders will have a field trip that day. I will attend with them. It is to a nursing home. Once again the children gathering to hug me good by provoked a sweet "look, you are like a Mother to them"...from the teacher.
I will paint for them the following day.

This will be perfect for I will have no time line.By 2:15 I will go to the other second grade class, the one Dash is in. She has opened up for me to do the same thing for her that day.

I have received four invitations to a Ice Cream Social for the service workers at the school. Funny I am not able to eat ice cream. I will bring the family and the Dash and I might bring some non dairy treat to enjoy the moment.

I am sure going to miss tackling Tuesdays with the children over the summer. It is so rewarding to serve this next generation.

Now by 5p.m. I tackled my pillow for 30 minutes until supper was to be cooked.
I am tired. Supper did get cooked and it was yummy!


Dove is now becoming hormonally moody.
It is so hard to help my husband understand her needs.
Now that is a BIG TACKLE!
He asked for forgiveness, yes it was instant I gave it to him.
Now that makes any tackle easier. :)
Me being post menopausal now for 7 years via surgery...well I sure feel for her.
It does bring back those memories of young womanhood.

Tackle a adolescence through love and understanding today.
She will be full of grace tomorrow.

All in a day

One of Dove's gifts at Disneyland were the round beads.
I told her I would make her a necklace out of them.
I had the cute word beads, they have a different word on each side.
These are the characters she got autographs from.
It is strung on elastic.

Supper was a delight.
My family is just excited over these home grown salads.
Plates all but licked clean!

I gathered almost a pound of seed off the flowering vine out front.
It will be fun to plant them next year.
I think they will grow over the shed on the shady side.
Perhaps around the base of the compost barrels.
I am so excited about the garden plans.
We talked about bamboo to hide the houses behind us.
Much to research. I want to do a through investigation about the needs that it will have.
Now we have a pick up truck I will start searching "Freecycle" for some free stuff to build the raised beds out of.

Lots to do.

Dash rode his bike while I tended to seed gathering. He did tricks and chattered while attedned by my eyes and ears. He is so busy of mind that child. He created a whole new game over the last two days. Designed the characters and assigned them roles and such. Pretty mind blowing stuff that kid comes up with.
We had a great devotional today about the 5th commandment. I was able to teach them to respect the office and to understand the hierarchy of authority over them. I taught them to do what is right no matter who is telling them to do differently and that I will back them up. You should of seen their eyes! I explained to them that many tricksters can pretend to be authority, to never just believe anyone who tells them they are a police man or an authority. To make them prove it. I tought them that if they answer to God that HE is the highest athority and that as long as they do what is right, even if they suffer for it , that they are doing the right thing. Giving them the example of a reporter in jail to protect the innocent. Also the study 60 minutes did where 5 of the 6 adults approched by a man saying he was a police man took a child for the man. I told them that only one man said NO to him and that he would call the police and wait for them before he would do what he was told to do.
Good Stuff!
Well I want to come walk around the blog block and visit ya all.
See ya in the comments.

Yard care, prepairing for the Garden extention.

While I was cleaning the coop yesterday,
My Darling was scooping the doggy doo.
We used the wheel barrow to haul the chicken doo to the compost.
He asked me if I still wanted to move the shed...:}
Oh, Oh, yes yes yes!!!!!!!!!
So we teamed up and used a drip pan to slide the compost over.

Trimmed a bit of orange tree limb to tuck the shed up under it a bit.
This way the neighbor does not have to look at it.
He mowed the seedy grass for me.
I have bad allergy to grass, real bad.

We used the old Egyptian technique.
We slid it on boards and then I would shift the planks over and over until we got real close to the spot. Sweet baby cut a finger and poured out his own blood to complete the job.
Now I have a place to store the tools and supplies...
They will now be close to the garden.

So sweet as it is a garden shed.
This will have a nice work surface, and a place for all the plants and foods.

This side will be extended out to a garden with some raised beds.
We will be fencing it off eventually in some way.


This Morning I was given some grapefruits.
So a morning at the patio to do the mail, calls I had to make and such.
I enjoyed my coffee, and fruit.

The dogs were thrilled to get the grapefruit scraps.
Yes they eat grape fruit!

The girls were happy to get some feed and attention.

Steve tied up the trellis by drilling a screw into the masonry wall and then used a wire to attach it. The beans, are doing well. These are the "blue Lake" vine beans.

Pulled my first onion. I am like a little kid...just too curious ;}
I wanted one for supper tonight.

With the shed gone off the west side I have all this room here.
I love the wide open space over here.
This will get gated off to be used for the berry garden in the future.
I have to acidify the earth. I will do this over the hot summer months.
I'll add some compost too.
near the outer corner where the black water pipe is...
I will have the pomegranate tree put in soon.
I am so concerned of the dog eating the tree though.
I have a budget for some trees this month.

Everything got hosed down, the laundry hung today and the porch hosed off.

With the dogs inside The patio got a good hosing off.

I hope to get this spray painted this week.

As well as this.
I purchased these things when I got a settlement years (like 12-15?) ago.
I had a bad fall in a shower stall where a maid had used lemon oil on the shower stall.
I got hurt pretty bad.
So with what was left after all the bills , I earned this.
I earned the patio furniture the HARD WAY ;}

The cushions were purchased from the funds left me at the death of my Dad.
This is mine.
In marriage never is something looked at as his or mine.
These things are what I liked though.
They are a set that meant a lot to me.
Now they are not something I think we would have chosen together.
Steve does not like them much.
Funny in marriage how we can loose ourselves if we are not careful.
Fortunate we have also found ourselves too.

I found a way to keep the mess down while loading the feeders.

Well I better tend to supper.

The Simple woman's Daybook

Outside my window... The Bird feeder is full as sparrows flit on and off of it, Inca dove are cooing on the ground happy to fetch all the seed that the sparrows toss down. A thrasher is chasing crickets out of the cracks. The patio is almost dry. I hosed it off this morning .
Laundry is hung on the line and the air is still.

I am thinking... Wow just noon now and I have put in a good hard days labor, tummy is full of rice and bean with home grown tomato. I'll need to get up soon and swap the laundry.

From the learning rooms...Research to be done on the melons, I need to look up the technique to end off the buds. The grass needs to be planted so I'll study the soils needs and consider the task of re seeding. A very big job.

I am thankful for... A man that LOVES GOD!

From the kitchen... Dishwasher is humming, meats for the week are thawing, grapefruit to wash. The grapefruits were a gift from a neighbor this morning.

I am wearing...White denim caprices with pockets galore, and a brown t shirt. bare foot and happy. My hair tied up for work.

I am reading... gardening books

I am hoping... To settle back into devotional this week with the kids. To do the East side yard. Get my energy back up and keep on a roll with the tasks at hand for the day.

I am creating...an un-birthday party plan for Dove for May 16th. She has her birthday is summer so we told her this year we could do a small party for her to have her school chums.
Garden extension plans for the next season.

I am praying... Just lovin on Him, not really of a mind so much of asking. Thinking of my Darling Husband thanking God for all the beauty He created in his spirit.

Around the house...Tomato are ripening daily, beans are thriving so I should have at least two suppers worth this week. I saw a few strawberries out there. Looking forward to that.
Jam to make this week. Flower seeds are being harvested. Now that the heat is here they are turning to seed rapidly.

One of my favorite things... Being embraced by Steve. He is the most appreciative husband.
I love it when there is peace here. The children are happy. Dash is testing all week at school and is thrilled no homework. It is so nice to see him off to school happy.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Bible Study, Art Master Presentations for 4 classes of 28 each, Moms in touch (a weekly prayer group), planning the gardens and plotting the vegetable crop for next season. My Sister is on her way 3000 miles across country to come back to her house here. I will speak to her often to help her with the doldrums of the driving. I would like to finish up some more of the "moving back in" tasks. The rest of the boxes out of the garage would just be great. I have an add to type to sell the 4 runner once the car is returned from the auto body shop.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Sometime back a neighbor was very rude to me and I stood up to her. I confrunted her and asked her to stop provoking me. Pretty radical stuff for me. Well I have been kind to her and appoigized for the frustration shown in "how" I spoke, not what I said.
I have said hello often.
Well she had the courage and grace to gift me this morning with a bag of grapefruit.
It was very generous of her.
What I see however is that show of humility it took for her to walk them to my door.
I shared some tomato with her.

I love the absence of strife!

That is my cool cup I got on vacation.
It is my suvenier.
I just loved the saying on it.

Get a Grip
A really GOOD GRIP

Menu Plan Monday

Two weeks ago we found a little wild caught halibut frozen, I gabbed it up and put it in the deep freeze.

click to enlarge

When thinking over what to create, I often imagine different cultures.
Then I mix it up by going Asian, Mexican, Polynesian, Italian and so forth through the use of spices and herbs. The mixtures of local to region ingredients as well.
I go through the stock and then fill in with what is at hand and in garden.
The menu will be well rounded and balanced.
Keeping good basics for preparations from scratch you can just about make anything with ease.
The staples are what is the foundation of your pantry.

This is a stock photo. They are a beautiful fish.
Wild caught fish is the only fish I purchase.
so this is a real treat.
Could you just imaging how this woman must of felt with this catch.
She would be joyous for the
Halibut
;}

Hello!
Well here were go back into routine, ready to roll into the wonderful days ahead.
Attitudes good and the process of a good sound budget is so awesome!
I was able to do last month trip food (restaurant 3x'x and all ) keeping the monthly budget to within $30 of set goal for the month.
That was awesome!
It really is more than possible with a bit of hard work and sound reasoning to keep to our goals.
This week I am feeding us from the stock pile and the garden.
With discipline the stores will be avoided until after the first.
It feels sorta defiant to say NO to going to the grocery store.
To defy the pull of the advertising mega monster is a wonderful freeing thing.

I had a longing a while back and a desire.
Yesterday desire fulfilled through a very generous dear old time friend.
She is starting into a new phase of her life and passed these containers on.
The very containers that I owned two of.
Now a full set!
They replace all of these store containers and recycled jars.

Thank you Jaye.
I am so happy to have them.
They are put to real good use here.

Enjoy your day and have fun with your menu

Disney last day Part Five 4-21-09

There is nothing as sweet as baby feet.
My baby is 8 now.

The family had one last good breakfast as Daddy Man filled the car up with gas, and fetched some fancy "white" duct tape.
funny seeing that white duct tape blend in with the paint took the sing away.
He met us as I was finishing up the kids plates.
I made him a waffle and finished up a bit of breakfast for myself.
We all went to the room and the kids got ready for one last swim

My Darling told me that after the four days parked that the car was a bit ripe!
Well after some investigation...sure enough there was a wet pair of Dash's pants from the beach on the floor of the back seat...
I worked on the car while they swam, to get it ready to load.
Check out was not until 11 A.M.

After a few trips to the trash I had it about ready to load and I parked it over nearer the elevator.

I went up to the room and loaded everything onto the "big bed".
Unloaded the refrigerator, and filled the suit case with all the dirty laundry.
I staged the stuff to load including the snacks for the road trip home.

Then it hit me!
What am I doing?????????
My baby's are growing up so fast and I am working in the room.
While the Daddy Man is enjoying them.
So I donned a suit and determined that I would play with my kids!!!!!!!

While I was packing I found the ball I had purchased at home to give to them.
I blew it up on the way to the pool.
They were happy about the ball and we all played catch.
Dash is so thin that he was only able to do the hot tup.

So we played a game of three way catch.
It was a lot of fun.

This was my favorite time I think of my vacation.

Laughing and just playing with the children.

Life at home can get too busy sometimes with all the duties.
I really want to strive more to play.

We all went up and the kids showered while I worked like the madd hatter to get the gear packed in a hurry.
All the while in a soggy suit.
Then at the last moment I got to shower.
I balled my eyes out over the stress of the trip.
The reality of Dove's needs.
It was very good for me.
Daddy got a Luggage cart, and the kids carried it all to the car.
I Can pack a moose in a peanut butter jar...:)

We checked out and left a few more thank you notes to the staff via the comment box.

So the car set for travel we bid good by to the hotel.
After a long..........
7 hour car ride we were home at the life we all love.
Critters alive, garden well and pillows awaiting us.

School was to be attended the next day, the Honda to be attended to the claim.
I had a dentist appointment at 8:30 a.m.

My Darling attended a half day of work....

Back in the saddle again riding into the sunset of our lives...
and loving the trail

Swine Flu Emergency in America

swine flu

People in Texas, California, New York is Arizona next?

My Goodness only three more weeks of school here.
Makes me pine for the home school days.
For those of you who may not know this of me I had to stop Home Schooling as an act of obedience two years ago. It was really hard for me to stop. I will Trust.
"I will trust with all my heart"

Wash your hands!
Cough in your elbow!

Please don't breath in my face!
:)
My kids and I had the flu shot in the fall.

Disney vacation part four April 20, 2009

"What is it"...
we asked the night before,...
" that your hearts wish for most? For this is our last day at the Park."
"What do you each desire out of the day."

Dove wanted more than anything to get Areal autograph
Dash agreed that he really wanted autographs too.

He also had a few rids in mind he longed to do.
Daddy man want to do a ride alone.

Again the day began at the breakfast table then the shuttle.

When we first entered the park I saw we still had enough cash to easily get them each an autograph book and a pen.

We were so BLESSED!
We walked right up to this

We walked to see if the POO was going to be out , and if so what time.
I worked with the fellow at the Poo ride some time getting the locations and schedule of characters.
We all went on the ride.
Then the three of them went off to do there own thing.
Then the Daddy Man took the kids and I walked around on my own for a while.
It was nice to be alone a moment or two. I was going to ride the train over to them but it was out of service so I took a leisurely stroll through the glass shops and saw some Russian crystal. Dash was born where the major crystal producer was. I recognized the stuff in an instant and struck up a conversation with a lovely woman.
The heat was already miserable.
That day it was to rise over 100*!

While they were with him ...

They saw this fellow!
Oh JOY!

but still...He snapped this...This is what I saw a lot of

She had been turned down the night before at the other park for a dinner with areal for the cost was $$$$40 per adult and $20 a kid, now mind you 11 years old there is an adult!
Now as much as our tender hearts would want to give this child a gift we were not willing to disrespect our hard earn income like that.
We had all gathered hands the night before and asked for a way.

WAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Well that was the last of that unhappy face for the day!
That was also a lesson in faith for Dove.

We all gathered at the tinker bell spot and got these
It was so hot!She was so happy now!

Tinker Bell asked her if her brother was one of those shy boys?...

attitude
The photographer was setting him up for a picture against the mushroom and Tinker Bell slipped over!
Oh I just love this shot!

so the boys set off to ride the Indy ride one more time and we again waited in line.
We were almost the last one to the front before she left...
The day before that had happened to Dove several time.
I begged not, mercy given!

This is for her best friend, It was very important to her to get a picture of Jasmin.
Oh she was just jumping up and down!!!

We took a hike back over to poo...
While the boys were on the ride (in line) we were able to do all of this!

JOY!

JOY!

JOY!

Joy!!!!!!!!!!!

look at that happy child!
This was the moment of the trip that I cherish most with Dove.
Look at her joy!

Her face...she relaxed.
Well we all met up again and decided to exit the park until night fall...
We had ice in our bandannas.
It was dangerously hot.
I saw two stretchers with paramedics.

On the way out

Steve stood in line for the duck and I stood for the Minny Mouse.
I let one person ahead and then they ran over they were the second from the last to get the autograph before she left.

We turned around to leave and
BEHOLD!!!!!!!!!!
Utter giddy glee
Their mutual favorite dude!

Too hot!
We took this shot and went back to the hotel.
The children swam, I fixed us all lunch out of the hotel refrigerator and the microwave.
I fell asleep hard for a good 45 minutes and then they all came back from the pool.
We all showered and then dressed.
We watched some TV
after the sun was almost down we loaded up with water and snacks and headed back over.
rest time

We decided to ride the train until the sun went down.
It made it to the "tomorrow land" side we got off and drove the cars.
How fun!
Dash drove me and Dove drove Steve.

It was a blast!
We hung out in tomorrow land they rode the star tours ride a few times while I sat and watched the popcorn maker till he had a new batch and purchased the kids a souvenir bucket each of corn.
That corn lasted until the next days car ride home.
Dash was so thankful for the corn, he asked twice for it and waited for the right time.

Dash and I watched a "Hunny I shrunk the kids " think. It was alright. He was once again stuck with mom because I can NOT do the ride "star tours" Amazed that Dove let her hair down and wanted to go alone with Daddy Man one more time.
His jaw dropped!
She felt so proud to overcome and show her daddy she could do it.
Look at that face!
Happy child.

We enjoyed our time and stood in our last line.
It's a small world ride.
Now Dove was scared again, it took half the ride for her to relax.

When we were in the line, I went and purchased some sorbet cones.
They had been on dry ice and were just solid.
By the end of the ride we all walked the park and ate the cold pops.

It was perfect ending.
Being so hot we decided to say good by to Disneyland.
We went back to the hotel and played in the room some, then went to sleep.

Many other things occurred throughout the day...
My mind will recall.
I will visit this post again to add things.

It is my hope to show this to the kids one day.