The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today... Monday, May 18, 2009

Outside My Window... It reached 108 today... I am now sitting with the blind beside me closed. Sweltered in the heat on a school bus with 45 kids from 9-2. So it is shaded.

I am thinking...
Oh that was a good nap! I was so hot and tired.
From the learning rooms… A new book for the serger sewing machine.. Learning about the soil structure in the garden. Design and layout for the new garden extension in the fall. Study of what and where and how to set it up.

I am thankful for... The way these last several days are so tender and kind to me. Trials are calm and the ease of the last several days have been so healing and such a rest from stress.
From the kitchen... Left overs and warmed up individual much and crunch. I had a recipe set up and forgot the tortilla at the store.

I am wearing... Brown slacks and a brown shirt with white and light brown Flowers on it. I forgot to have earrings on.

I am reading...A list of study will commence once the week ends...With three field trips in four days I am full. I found myself reciting scriptures to the dawn.Some days when I am busy it is that the passages within my mind come to me.They are like a syrup that flows over me and sicks to my day refreshingly sweet to the thoughts.

I am hoping... That my time this summer with the children will be rich in new memories and good lessons of character growth for all of us. I hope for laughter and healing of the hearts from the long school year that was wounding to the souls of my darlings. Hoping for the healing that will return the sound balance that public school challenges daily.To also acquire a water tank and to prepare to gather the rain water for the gardens.
I am creating...Gifts for some blogging friends, mental plans for the summer sewing schedule, I want to replace my day dresses they have become 7-1o years old, a bit thread bare time to make me some new clothes. The plans for the garden extension. Finish the framing of the kids awards. A new blog called "A place to create" to share knowledge of skills and know how.
I am hearing...crunching as I am eating some apple/cinnamon rice snacks.There is a sparrow on the other side of the glass beside me, children are watching a movie and I am recovering my energy as the click and clack is motivating me into the evening.

I am going... To rest tonight!Tomorrow I will forgo the field trip to tend to my own fellowship and nurture my soul with Bible study attendance. It is the final meeting of the summer. I feel I would be amiss to miss out on the last gathering.

Around the house... It is in an even flux, except the toll of the laundry that has been given a back seat during the last several busy days. I will have a great catch up with that for a few days. With this heat I think I should be ahead of the washer as I hang things out to dry.All else in in good order.There is a large stack of papers in the office two ft tall! That the children and I will have a time together set aside. It is my vision to spend time going through the last several months to show them all they have gained through there education. I think it will be a good transition and nice to clear away the stack too.

One of my favorite things... is having my children home during the summer. I thrive on the time together with them. It is a challenging time of 24/7 so it must be thought out to create a good flow of time alone and together. Play dates and going to the public pools to swim.
Projects of art and such are nice to do together. Just that down time where they can settle back into them self. Away from the social lessons that are so difficult , yet necessary for good self esteem.
security
affiliations
sense of self
goals
competency.

Time to cover the bases to watch out for wholes in their development to take the time to stitch them up intentionally.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week... Laundry, Bible study, field trip to the skate land again..., Chocolate party perhaps with Dash's class. Laundry :)One more shopping trip for the last of the lead ins...LAST DAY OF SCHOOL CELEBRATION!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing…

Protecting and Respecting the Life around us.Please cut up your soda rings so that fewer creatures suffer the torture of becoming entrapped by them.
Thank you.


If you would like to join us in The Simple Woman's Day book, please see Peggy for details.

Menu Plan Monday

Click image enlarge...
Good Morning!
This week is going to be a full one.
It is the last week of the kids school.

I played around on this site for some ideas this week.
It can always be found on my side bar under other blogs

It is a list of 100 copy cat restaurant recipes.

We harvested onion this last week so it is in good order to make up some
Mongolian Beef out of the harvest and the flank steak I found on sale and froze.

This week I am piggy backing on the menu
It is when the meals prepared while have aspects that will be carried onto the next meal.
It really saves prep time if you say cut the scallions tho do two days at one time.
Or thaw the meats that will be used for more than one recipe, if possible cook them up and have them pre-cooked the next meal.

We are going Asian and Mexican this week.
With a bit of breakfast flair added in.
It is very hot here and the fresh produce from the garden is in time for the dishes.
Cooking in season if from your garden or the store is very economical.

MUNCHA!
I'll wax Italian another week
:)

"Enjoy your dinner"
a sweet waiter at a Asian restaurant always said that, it became a family standby comment in the early years. Always brought a smile at the remembrance of the fellow.

Living life to the top! Week end in review

I do not much remember Friday...
Dove and I took a trip to Costco and I found a new swim suit and got the cup cakes for her.

How can so much life fit into two days?
Cupcakes were purchased and we were all set to be off by 8:45 to the rink.
Of course like all party days a little stress was had, moments before the exit.
I keep forgetting to take my medications.
Then many hours later by ill effect we realize what is happening.
Of all things to forget!
I grabbed them and took them at the rink "thank goodness"!

Our party had been given favor to have a free lesson before the skate. Now I went to great efforts to accomplish this for the kids with timing and all.
I had to all but twist the arms to get them to participate.
Dash would not, he skates like a mad man run a muck. Gets him around the rink, in a very entertaining manner.
Dove finally joined in and showed good skills. I even donned a pair of skate.
There was a really nice guy that came over and kept an eye on me.
He said mam we have a class for the adults, I declined to stay with Dove.
He said "it is a much easier call"

Deciding to skip the hard parts, and being very sweaty from the really hard work it is to skate....well it was still very fun.
Noticing my Beloveds face strained sadly I realize it is very true that my days of skating put all who depend on me at great risk of losing my abilities.
I might just have been my last skate...boo

Dove has pink hair from an event at the elementary.
I have yet to be able to get that stuff of of her scalp!

Only three of the seven kids showed.
One of the little girls who was not invited saw to that...
She called here to invite herself!
I overheard and told Dove "No" that I had a budget and she had 10 kids only to attend and then kindly reiterated that to the kid on the phone.
You see I use speaker all the time when I am on the phone.
With a hearing problem this is the only way The tones and such are easy for me to make out.
So the family is accustom to answering the phone this way.
Worked out well because the kids calls can be monitored.
Well Dove was thrilled, she had told the girl no.
Mom, however took that off of her.
She thanked me.

After a long time of skate and games the booth time came about.
She then was called to the DJ booth and got to speak up on microphone and everyone said happy birthday to her.

The booth gleaned her 75 tickets, I was so relieved that she got something.
I thought she had nothing.

Then there was sponge bob.
The 4 kids foreground and a boy were in our attendance.
3 guests yet I still had to pay for 10:{
So that little twerp made an impact.
Too bad for her she is given no instruction by her parents.
Nor are those who are intimidated by her strong enough to withstand her.
Bad thing that kid is going to turn into.

Dove still had fun.
One of the two girls that came was acting center stage and more than once Dove whispered to me about it.

Kids will get attention when they can.
So this was a strange party.
My sweet freind D. came she and her boy are real treasures. I skated with and for the kids.
dove had begged me too.
So I missed time with D. that was awkward, but it was right that I skate with and for the birthday girl.

Dove was so happy.
It was a real nice time.

I had to leave 15 minutes before the end of the party.
Well I had to leave.

My girl friends invited me here.
Fancy

Oh my goodness...
Humbly I tell you of this outpouring of generosity and kindness.

My friends sat me at the head of the table...
The least of these amazing women...
These are dear dear friends of many years of sisterhood of the heart.
We are all captivating women who have understood who we are in Christ.
(Stacy and John Eldridge, Captivating a must read)
Our husbands all love God with passion.

We shared our updates on our present days.
Each live a marvelous work and a wonder.
All have uncommon lives.
Different in so many ways...it is those differences that we find growth.

I sat there amazed at how it felt to be so honored like that.
It was so ...well so humbling to be lifted up in you love and thoughtfulness.
Showered with gifts of words and of tangible treasures.
My heart overflowed.
Oh they are so beautiful thes women.

The tea was so touchingly precious.
It fealt like I was recieving all of those teas that my heart wished to offer others and often did.
It was those days when some of you came and spontaneously we shared a cup adn a cookie form my oven.

I received the luxury of a 4 course meal.
A bowl of fruit
soup
salad
deserts.

I think we tried 4 teas with the pot always warmed.
I never even lifted a finger to do it.
Sorry if it sounds weird , but that just was so amazing.
I want to do it now for others here more.
I want to treat all of you readers to a tea.
A time where you feel as I felt yesterday.
Lifted up.
Taken to the head of the table.
Like some matriarch I sat with all of you loving on me.
I am honored to be called your friend .
You have lifted me.
I am refreshed...

I had a surprise that another good friend showed, to join our circle.
It had been some time that we had gone without being together.

I loved this arbor!

Look at all this generosity and kindness!
They would not let me pay for my lunch.
We have never splurged like that before.
I teared up over that little angel and shovel.
Funny how some things just touch your heart so deep.
One of the gifts is a little Hummel tea set.
I had given Dove mine.
I thought well she is a little girl grown now up, I felt I had to show her I had confidence in her to take care of it.
Now I have one just for me again.
It has a baby and a sunflower on the pot and plates.
TOO CUTE!
See the little bag of sead, well you bake a bird feeder cake!
and the note pads say...
"Who loves a garden , Still his eaden keeps"
pretty image of a younger me, with sunflowers.
Funny thing getting older, all those years of noticing flows...
Now I see how really pretty I was as a young woman.

When I pulled up to the house there was an
AIR CONDITIONING REPAIR
truck out front!

ua oh!

The ac needed to have the coil cleaned and when steve touched it
I sprung a leak!
Our dear friend , who just started to work with my darling had lost his ac unit on Friday.
He was good friends with a fellow is who is renowned locally for industrial ac.
Well we got a referral to HINKLE AC
They were there at the house in 10 minutes and 15 minutes later the ac was fixed and recharged.
$300. to do so and we were up and running.
Provision...




Sunday Morning...

Darling on the mill...
"what you up to say I"

To his reply
"I'm making something for you"

I hurried to go get dressed and such.. to sweep up while he worked.
By the time I returned he had done the sweep of (borax against the ants)
He was almost done.
You'll have to go over to a place to create to see it.
I'll get it posted tomorrow.

Mothers day for my MILove
We were absent due to the wrist thing...
So I set together a basket of produce from our garden.
He had a nice afternoon there and had a lovely supper of fresh fruit salad.
Hot dogs too...
Well she is so sweet she gave ma a great book on serger projects.
Then the lovely fabric gift she gave will be perfect for some cloth napkins to go with the new place mats.
Summer is here and this time of year my sewing is a big focus of the days ahead.
She made me some more knitted dish clothes that I will turn into another hot pad.
I just love those, if you spill it turns into a dishcloth in an instant.

We gifted the kids with the movie
"Bolt" this week end.
I found a $5 off coupon for it at Costco (good until 5 /28?)

They wanted to see what is was all about for the dogs to hang their heads out of the car window...
:)

Funny!
They really loved it!
It was just too hot to lose the ac in the car
104* here mid afternoon.

My goodness...

Look at that...
Plus all those letters and pictures from the children at the school.
It is like my cup is so full, and still.
Like if I bumped it, it would slosh over the brim...
Thank you all.
Oh I forgot there is a really cool rustic bird house to set out that came from the fallen oaks in Conneticut, my sister gave me. I'll try to get a picture of it and the cool book and fabric given to me today.
My cup over flows!
I am so loved.
I remember as a kid how much I used to pray to be loved.
It is a holy thing.
I take none of your love for granted.

I remembered an event at the baby shower last week.
I was asked to go get lemon aide and then learned my sister had a plan to follow and so I followed her plan instead of leaving to get the juice. It was a surprise party and I had hidden the car a half a block away already. Well I thought about that comment from anonymous , how she saw me as selfish. My view was following the hostess wishes. We maid lemon aid without a reamer, I just used an ice cream scoop. More than one way to skin a cat. :
)
I thought of how we can see each other through the eyes of our interpretations of the event. Not really knowing how or what is the thought process going on in another head.
Think of it.

It really rang true of that passage of thinking the best of one another.

A tid bit of an understanding in one of those flash point moments during introspection.
Just made me stop and think.

Well tomorrow I need to get this truck on an add.
Look at this engine. They really made it look nice.

Well it is 12:30 adn the tylenol will take effect now and let this hampster sleep.
My body was resting , but my mind was just on the wheel.
I love you all so much.
Your comments are so appriciated.
Your lives are so beautiful and each little event your speak of tneder and dear to me.

May all of you have a beautiful day.

I have a field trip to the State Capital then the mineral musium and then onto the park at days end...
Oh ear plugs on a school buss....a must!

Shopping frugal

Hello, I missed all of you today.
I was tending my duties.
this week I was spread pretty thin.
Wednesday evening we got the truck back.
Just before we had to get together to go to the roller rink.
I put the signs in it yesterday.
Drove it to the school and had folks looking at it.
I drove it to the bank and the grocery just to get some exposure to it.
Lots of looks. It is very shiny.
It is a 1995 with only 130,000 miles on it.
New tires too.
Pass the word if you know anyone.

We set our price at $5300.
It is really beautiful.
We were given favor at the detail shop and only charged $150. for $300. job.
It is so pretty I really wanted to do the car put we opted to hold the funds instead.

I stayed up very late last night to get the kitchen cleaned.
Paid the bills and set the papers to be filed.
It is just a big job this week with so many tasks to do.
I did the lead in adds and collected the coupons, cleared out the outdated ones.
Set the list using a high lighter of color set for each store.
Pulled all the coupons to match lead ins.

I received a letter that I made an error on the Federal tax return.
They sent me $150. more!!!!!!!!!!
Cool!
Replaced all the funds that we borrowed from ourselves and had $450. to spare to add to the budget. We will save it up, for our 6 month emergency fund that we are working on.

Got the statement on our electric bill.
We do a balanced budget payment.
It went down $29. a month now!
We did real well this last year and now have reduced the balance plan that much a month!
Mostly time of use, but hanging the clothing and Thinking things through better when we use the oven for example we really use all the heat at that time but doing things that we can add for the next meal while the oven is hot.


Today a trip to the post office to mail all the bilss, then to the Albertsons.
They have Saunderson Farm chicken .77 cent a pound!
filled the big freezer with 80 pounds of it, mostly split breast.
They had lunch meat $2 box, so after the first run to the store (where I had used those coupons I had had... $1 off three) I cut out the ones from my purchase and went back for more.
50 boxes apx total.
I cut the box, and just keep the package.
It is frozen so each day I can just pull one out.
No lunch meat or chicken shopping for me for the summer.

Click to enlarge
$621.63
worth of foods for

only $268.

saved $353.68
add to that the items that were on clearance of around $30. more.
They often do not show up on the receipts as a savings due to just coming up at the clearenced price.

This is $3.44 worth of chicken, one family package. I purchased 16.

Found these cute place mats for .50 each.

All in all a very frugal day.

Costo found me buying cupcakes...
Yes Me...:)
The old saying choose your battles.
Found a cute swim suit that LOOKED GOOD ON ME!
I was stunned Steve even came in and said I looked nice in it.
A swim suit!
Go figure.

Tomorrow is the rink so I better get rested.

I will see you three for tea at 1pm
I need to find that address email you sent Trisha.
yikes.

Thankful Thrusday

Busy busy days. Living life to it's top!
We got the car back and the 4 runner detailed. It is going on the market today.
I am home the first day of this week and tasks to do! oh man to do list so long I am tripping on them. :)

For the love of a child...

Yesterday I had set before me a commitment to keep to the children of Room 33.

While considering in my heart the day before while on the bus, this one child I had yet to reach I saw myself painting yesterday for him.
Dong a fast study of the dream catcher I set out to prepare my day at the elementary.
Two classes to paint for.
The first being Room 33.

One child of the 28 had yet to be touched through the exterior.
I have had children of the heart like this before.
Those who are wounded souls shut down before the world around them.
I found out yesterday what his color was of preference.

I learned a bit of understanding on the intent.
When I got to the class the teacher had a bathroom break and I ran up to the office to tell the office of a kid bullied to make sure he was alright.

When I returned they were all in the room and she asked me to just wait a moment before I came in. Dove was by me and upset...I was concerned of what was bothering her...

Then the door opened and I heard the kids singing something...I was focused on Dove at my side upset...
I turned to enter to the whole of the class in the middle of
"For she's a golly good art teacher, for she is a golly good art teacher...that nobody could deny!"

a bit stunned and endeared to the core I held back tears of appreciation only to have gifts placed in my hand and led to a CAKE! in my honor with "Thank You Mrs. U" on it.
They handed me "stacks!" of pictures and hand made cards...Then a stack of letters written long hand to me...
I was asked then to open the gifts.
There was a card every signed.
Another gift a $20 gift card to my very favorite restaurant! (I learned later that all the children had pulled money to collect a fund to get it for me,), It said "for DATE NIGHT" me...a date with my husband!!!!!!!!...
I cheered "Pie wei" I cheered! to the delight of the young ones they were so pleased.
A child walked up to me and handed me a hand full of CHERRIES! Those of you who know me know I LOVE FRESH CHERRIES!!!!!!!! I asked her "did I tell you about how much I loved cherries? " she said no.

Next was a plack with a poem on it!
Oh what a nice poem...
The teacher warned "now this one is gonna make you cry..."
After opening it I read it aloud in my best story teller voice with tone and inflection of emote.
The children cheered.

Well by now I was pumped up with all the helium a woman could hold.
Floating on the breeze...

I began the lesson and the painting.

I painted a dream catcher in honor of the only child I had yet to get through too. The only one.
He is a very beautiful hearted boy with a shell about him.
At the end of the lesson...It was so cool.
I told them of the import of respecting nature and each other.
Of hearing with their eyes, they understood.
For I told them the ear often hears and does not get it but to look and study the hands of the Elders to see lessons taught without word.
IT WAS SO COOL!!!!!!!!!

I told them when I was quiet and listen to what I was to do for them that this was the lesson and the painting that I saw to do...I concluded the lesson with ...how I did what I saw myself to do.
That this is also what I saw...
I then handed the painting to that child...I asked him if I might gift him the painting...Stunned he stammered, and I stated again that it was to be a gift to him...

OH FOLKS
LOVE A CHILD!
ANY CHILD JUST LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!

"Made a difference to that one"

the statements on these letters would just pull it up from your toes...

A holy day!

Next up

was the second grade class... (not Dash's class) another.

I had taken the hands on a book pattern.

I spoke of the importance of imagination
Then the import of reference books.
Only to find out that the teacher favorite color was green...
and her very favorite thing in the whole world the childern told me was
BOOKS!

So we painted the hands and the book, the kids had to make a short exit and then returned and I had finished the detail on the book.

The lesson...
Not only did your teacher give you knowledge...
MORE IMPORTANTLY
She gave you understanding
how to use the knowledge you gained.

So on the spine of the painted book we named it
UNDERSTANDING
by Peterson (on cover)
Oh she welled up those baby blues and placed her hand on her heart.
COOL! The kindness penetrated deeply into her heart!

She told the children when they are in high school if they come back that they will see this painting still here on her wall.

A friend of mine saw me as I was leaving the school after a full day...She said I was glowing as I floated out those dubble doors on my way to my car....

Still am.

We learned at the last hour of the school day that it was the PTA fund raiser at the skate rink, Steve came home early due to the retreival of the truck (a friend helped him) We took a little girl who otherwise would not be able to attend (due to single mom loss of job).
They had a good time.
We got home late.
Telling you I need to just dip my candle in wax...

Some days are Holy


Oh but to see that flame shine up those dark corners.
I am a telling you
LIVIN LIFE TO THE TOP!

Oh to live a full life, this life not lost or idle in time.
Full and thriving.

"some day if you do not let them make me like them...I promise I will give you a life"
Promise kept.

How can I but be emerced in gratitude.

Yesterday afternoon My Sweet Garden buddy and I went out to the garden to do a fast harvest of the garden before we had to be off to Dove's play.
"Can I Come Mom!, I love being in the garden with you!"

That little man did the duty of onion pulling.
He was a great help. I posted over at "BEE BLISS GARDENS".
I was a real joy to see the harvest of the efforts 26 this haul, 9 last week and there are I think three more in ground. Once they fall over it is time for harvest.

It was so fun to go to the play as a family. Just as I was loading up the kids the "daddy Man" pulled into the drive way.
The kids went with him and I met them all in the parking lot.
My husband and I had a whole 45 minutes embrace as we sat together and took delight in our daughter.
Dash was a bit of a clown and embarrassed her.
She gave him the "what for!" when she got off the stage. Dash was making the performers laugh. He just loves that power of laughter. We allowed his little pal to sit with us , but almost three times sent him to his parents. I mus t be just an old codger but the kids need to know how to respect others who are trying to do a good job. The kids all worked so hard. Earlier there were8 of the 28 absent, just skipped out on the others. Some were ill...many just skipped out. So several had to read lines of others looking as if they had not learned all the lines. I do wish that the teachers would of acknowledged that.

I flew out the door at the end .

Took a short cut through the reservation and got to the party.
The first to arrive.
So I helped out (very little) my SIL and one of her daughters (my niece) set it all up.
They are pro's...

My niece was not so such surprised as just STUNNED!
It was a well pulled off surprise.

Well much to do today.

I am going to do two demonstrations for the kids at the elementary.
Had an idea of doing an acrylic of a dream catcher for the 4 TH graders and have for the 2 ND graders a book image with fingers holding it. I think I'll tell them about the wonder of (all most) all you need can be found in a book.

Better go water the garden, chickens and dogs.
Tomorrow....
stay home....
REST....
bake a cake....oh my life is full.
I am so glad I am made able, it is a ride.

Did I tell you...
It really felt GOOD to come home last night to my family.
My friendship with my husband is the greatest joy.

Wordless Wednesday

Just three of the many many

Tackle it Tuesday

Hello!
Well the day started off fast...
No surprise this is that uncommon life blog after all...
:)
I was lovin' that pillow and my sweet darling had to pull a "come on hun, up and at em' ".
Once the lunch made, he off with a store bought breakfast bar...gasp!
I just am slowing down some:)

Kids out the door to the bus stop.. then I had just enough time to shave my legs and do a fast pedicure on my fancy little toes.

I bought these cool moisture sox and decided to leave them on with the tennis shows for the field trip and I gulped my coffee and made it to the class room 10 before boarding the bus.

Now I forgot my camera! arg...
We took the kids 45? of them two classes to a nursing home a good 20 drive away. They were awesome. No one was in power over or with them on the bus wierd...so I just stepped into my power. funny how children need to know there is an authority in charge they just relax with it.
We split (thank God) and did the performances to two seperate audiences. Our kids got to see the "Kitchen band" perform and clap and such. They were so awesome. I say that word alot...
Life is AWE inspirering.
So the performance was sweet, and then we all loaded the bus and left to the park here in my community. Funny the proviledge we have of living here we have one of the best public parks around.
Lunch and play was had. When It came time to gather the chicks to the gander....welll.
Life is awesome....
There was a man, who was the driver of one of the other busses (we were three busses of 6 classes total) so I asked him...
"Hay do you have a big bumming voice to call these kids in?"
He looked at me and approched...he said very quietly with a deep wrasp, "are you making fun of me?"
"I am a VET and I am wounded in combate I have no voice"
OH GIRLS...of all people to say that too.
That was my next sentence. He and I talked and I told him thank you for my country...I told him of Russia nad my children, how he make this able for us to keep free here. I told him of the little kind lecture I had just given on the bus ablut the last man standing holding up the banner as to never let it fall.
He was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!
He thanked me for sharing with him. I too have PTSD just a different battle front. I was able to understand his heart and his voice of soft agony.
The children were calling me they had all abourd the buss. I boarded and told them all of what had happened...that I had just met a real HERO.
Our play was on HISTORY.

AWESOME!

Home now did a post on the "Place to Create" on card making.
And the scrapping center in the studio.

This is the card I made this morning between 7-7:30 a.m., I had laid out the supplies before bed last night.

It is now 3 p.m.
The children will walk in the door soon.

at 4:15 we must be back at the school for another performance of the play for the parents.
Steve is getting off to meet us there. He never misses a play for his children.


I will pull away from the school at 5:30 to attend the Baby Shower at 6p.m.

While Steve stays at the school for the book fair at 5:30
Open house at 6-7
then the ice cream social for the volenteers 7-8.
I will miss out on that tonight.
OH but the smiles of the children are my acknowledgment.

no time to spell check
love ya!