Beautiful Early summer day here.

With the garden calling
The day pulled me out doors.
That is once the bread rising
Dove was given the quest of putting the bread int he oven to bake.

This is the maverick butternut squash growing very fast.

The tomato bails were torn down and I carried them over to set the new beds on the garden extension into being.
Cleaned up all the dung and was set to get going on it when company came for a few hours.
Had a impromptu play date and a visit with the mom.
It was so nice.
She and I did some things like hang the big quilts out together.
The laundry from the camp trip is large items.
We spoke of things of the spirit
Then the bread was sliced when they left and the kids and I had meat sandwiches.

Off to the yard again
Go see the work over at BEE BLISS GARDENS (my other blog)
My husband came home to see me finishing up.

He set to task on the camper sink. He found one to fit for 2/3 the cost or less. It is even metal where the Coleman one was plastic.
It fits great, it is even a bit higher than the old one. That will make an ease of dishes

It was so nice outside today!
We had a visit while the rice cooked.
A wonderful supper of salmon.

Now I am off to comb Doves long neglected hair.
Her special needs makes it very difficult to allow her hair to be cared for.
It is really a problem.
So last night I prayed and God showed me to give her some Tylenol.
Sit her in front of Leave it to Beaver!

So I am off...

The Simple Woman's Daybook

June 1st Edition of The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today...

Outside my window... The day is nice, morning warm and not to hot to finish up some garden and yard care tasks.

I am thinking... How wonderful it is to listen to others. How sweet it is to see the harvest of my toil in the garden. It is so fun to go out and shop in the garden for the weekly menu.

From the learning rooms...Raised bed gardening lessons and lessons of the Spirit.

I am thankful for...Those divine provisions, many of which I did not even know I needed:)

From the kitchen... Fresh loaf of bread for lunch, suppers planned. Grocery shopping accomplished in the garden.

I am wearing... Turquoise stretch caprices, and a turquoise beaded sleeveless knit top.
A head band and a hair band pulling it into a pony tail. No real jewelery for I have been hard at work on the camping linens and the yard most of the day.

I am reading... Watchman Nee, The Spiritual Man.

I am hoping... To grow some awesome melons for summer, save my green beans from the moths, Start the water tank hook up to be ready for the monsoons. Finish a beaded gift for a friend. Start sewing some new clothing for myself.

I am creating... A home, a refuge from the storm. A place of peace and beauty. Raised garden beds. Water harvesting systems. New clothing for self and kids.

I am praying... All my needs and the needs of my family and friends. Have not if I ask not.
Those faces and names that come before me throughout each day.

Around the house... Children lovin life during summer at home with mom. Amimals livin in a life of needs met.

One of my favorite things...home grown crops. Happy children.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Tending chores in the house and garden, Repair of the camper to be ready for the next trip.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
My kind of canned beans
:)

Menu Plan Monday daily bread

On a wonderful blog...
That I can not remember who it was, I found this daily bread recipe.
If I got this from you, thank you.
The kids do not enjoy the whole wheat so I am doing this for them.
It is a sweeter bread and they loved it.

I held back a tablespoon of the sugar and will do so each time until they complain or notice it. Then I will add that last one back and use it for the altered recipe.
Olive oil is used and was rapid rise yeast.
Sea salt is also a preference.

Yeast is the most threatening part of bread baking.
The one cup water was placed in the microwave for 1 minute then cooled until my finger was comfortable in it.
It felt hot then eventually nice.

One of my bread backing habits is to put a tablespoon of olive oil on the counter.
This I use for my hands and also the kneading is made much easier.
The left over is used to oil the bread pan.

I love this bowl Thank You Jaye for the gift of it.
It has been a real nice addition to the kitchen.

Well bread was rising by 7 a.m.
By 8:30 it was punched down and in the loaf pan at second rise.
It is the bread for today's lunch.

Were Home Camping Rim Road 300

All Pack up and on the road.
We pulled into home this afternoon.
A beautiful forest, cool weather, very cool at night.
Many adventures to tell of in the days to come.
Homestead was well cared for and the floors had even been mopped for me!
Imagine that, she mopped the floors and cleaned the back porch.
That was so sweet of her.
The garden is even still thriving.

Thankful Thursday

I will be forest bound in the morning.
My husband was sent home from work at noon,
No more overtime and he had his 80 hour in for this pay period.
So we get an extra unexpected day in the forest.
It is 100 here it will be 65/75 there.
Less pay of course but more time with each other.
We have made this trip on a very low budget.
New tires on the tailor was the big expense.
The other ones were original, 10 years old.

So sweet the provision.
I tweaked the numbers and did not buy any groceries (did not need too).
So all in all we are still able to do this.

The kids have had a real kind loving way toward me for many days now.
It is so touching.
Really....I will call one of them..."yes mom, what can I do?"
I am telling you it is so dear.
I will hold these days near.
The love they are showing me in deed is just so healing.
These my dear children are loving me tenderly, selflessly...I tear up.
Wow.
What amazing little people.
There is no ulterior motive guys.
They are just really kind.


I have a wonderful friend here over the weekend to tend the estate.
She will care for all things living.
She is a wonderful soul.
Our girls are friends.
We had no way to go.
Then an idea and I hired her, they are in tight times.
The grace in that she is receiving the income is honorable.
She and I meet on a good ground.
We are different in many ways yet a mutual respect for each other abides.
Folks kindness overcomes so many many barriers.
We so often allow "religion" to hinder the relationship, the opportunity to touch each others lives.
I say that in that true religion is to feed the widow and the orphan and to tend to the widow in her hour of need. To Love the Lord your God with all our hearts souls and minds.
Your neighbor as yourself.

Everything else is aside is a chance to divide to judge to separate and repel each other.

Honey in the honey comb had a good chewy wax on it,
It must be that the sweet be spun out to run clear.
We see the comb and turn up a nose.

See the honey in the hearts of those around you.
Even the honey comb can be a treat.
It is that first bite...Fear what will it be like?
Know who you are and what you believe.
Know why you believe it.

Well I have found that the things that so easy divide
well they are the very things we are afraid of .
Thankfully perfect love...
perfect love
cast out all fear.

I am admired by one who he so dearly loves.
His heart is for her, so being His friend I stand along side Him in that.
One day she will understand this vast love he has for her.

I thank him for the privilege to overcome fear with love.




Funny I do a lot! I really see it so when I have to delegate it to another.

An Uncommon Son

Good Morning
As many of you know our kids are Special needs kids.
I find it so amazing how in every thing there is beauty and a provision for overcoming any perceived weakness.
Many of you know that we have to keep vigil and watch for our dear Dash. He may face a condition called Ushers Syndrome. He will need to gain all the skills and knowledge that is possible when he is young. For one day the acquisition of knowledge may be much more difficult do to a possible loss of multiple seances.

We have a public school system that weeds out students with higher learning potential due to high IQ abilities. Dash went to the testing for this in the last few weeks of the former school year.

We just received this letter....
RE: ELP (Extended Learning Program)

Your child has met the requirements to be placed in our Extended Learning Program.

The Extended Learning Program pull out program is for students in grades three through six. Participating students spend one day per week with other students from the same grade level (age differences some concern?) in the ELP resource room with an ELP teacher who has been specially trained to offer students additional challenges in a variety of ares. In some schools, the students are bused by the district to the ELP center at another school for the day. The ELP/pull out service is not only an accelerated program but an enrichment program Students will need to be able to read and comprehend beyond their present grade level.

God met the boys need!
Because of his gift his abilities will give him greater opportunity to gain more knowledge at an earlier age.
He is academically two years plus beyond himself.
I want him to be able to emotionally grow at his pace, never to rush him.
This is a free (our taxes) program.
He will still be in the same school as Dove for two more years.
Now it may be that the Ushers in not going to occur.
I refused the DNA testing because it could destroy our ability to get medical insurance on him and he is the same person whether we know it or not. His hearing loss involves 8 Th nerve so it is what we have to watch for.
We no longer qualify for the benefits because we worked overtime to pay off the medical debt.
This is a hard thing.
So everything will now be out of pocket.
Once we have met our savings goals we will slow down the overtime.
Without it we easily qualify.
Counting the cost we must use these last few earning years to be able to keep up with the retirement possibilities.
GOD IS OUR PROVISION!
Dash is His Son, I just get the privilege of raising him as my own.
I am just so blessed with this child.

Sewing plans

Will be posted over at A Place To Create later
got dishes to finish up.

Tackle it Tuesday

UPDATED AT THE END OF DAY

Good Morning
This is a tackle of the day
Getting this loaded.
We emptied it when we thought we would be selling it.
I am so overjoyed to be able to get to keep and use it.
Now with the kids older it really is nice to begin again and load the really necessary items.
It was over loaded before really.

Note it is dark this morning when I took this image...
This is a stack of several things to do .
A few awards to frame and a book to send to the owner.
Thank you Lisa, I will work to get the book in the mail.

I found a wonderful Amish recipe for a good white bread for the kids.
Dove kneaded bread!
She really enjoyed the feel of it in her hands
She tasted it and love the way it tasted.
Is that just the coolest!
She is making bread!
Success!
Part of my afternoon was spent going through the fabrics.
So many choices , as you long timers may recall many gifts of yardage have been gifted me over the last two years.
Time to sew myself a new wardrobe.
This is so fresh and bright.
Summer is the time.
It is also the time to begin to overcome this poor attitude of never sewing for myself again until I loose weight. Hogwash! I am worthy of my own hands skills no matter.

You may also remember the many patterns I found that day in the dumpster behind the fabric store.
I was helping some one move and was searching for boxes.
It was the very store just a week before...
While I was going through the drawers of patterns on one of my mommy nights out...
I desired or thought of how awesome it word be to just have every pattern I desired and not to have to only choose one.
:)
I had large boxes of them!
We (my friend and I ) went through them and then we gave many to a women s shelter.
There is still in my garrage two large legal size file drawers of all different patterns all new!
Except my old favorites of course.

The sewing season is on the way and so this opened up and all the little projects are very time consuming. There are bird houses to hang after I coat them with some clear coat for weather protection. Several pictures to hang up. A few patterns to iron out and repackage.

The lamp was a gift from my MILove. She gives so much to us.
They both do. I came home with a basket of coupons to sort and enter into the case.
Julie has her bday soon. Are you all thinking of doing something?
Trisha are you interested in a play date?

The last of the tomato, and several carrots from the garden.
The last of the carrots will need to be pulled.
It is just getting too hot for them to grow well.
A good cup of coffee and a book.
Chocolate Tofu Pudding to make.

Listing several travel tips.
For the ride...
A cookie sheet makes a good magnet board
over the seat bags with the toys and books
art cases filled with colored pencil and sharpener, they are a clip board so paper is one a hard surface.
Travel games.

Snacks pre packaged
cheerios crackers
Some waters in the freezer so they are well chilled and they melt throughout the drive.

The little artist are set to be busy for a few minutes this morning.
They are very active right now with it.
They are having a wonderful conversation.
I wish you could all be a butterfly on the wall.
TOO CUTE!
This to also bug out the used up markers.
Dove is making a poster of the Jonas Brothers a music Band.

Took Dash out to the garden for our time.
The child wanted to understand what a Maverick was.
This Maverick squash is self planted.
I think it is a butternut that grew from composted scrap.
It is out of season so we have it shaded a bit.

She has a lot of female flowers.
Several squash very pretty.

I am embarrassed to show you this poor pup.
However she is so happy!
I have to finish her up.
It is so hot that we just do a bit at a time.
Her fur was in bad shape. She refuses to let me groom or brush her.
The challenges of adopted an older pet.
They have set in their ways so much.
I was so happy to see her vibrant running and romping around she really is loving the shave. I had not intended to take it so close but she kept moving and it got a few chunks so I had to make it even as possible. She had so much undercoat matted that it just had to be done. It will grow out shortly I am encouraged.

Heros
These children of mine
The kindness that they lovingly showed me this morning.
Even now they are each playing quietly in the bedrooms.
I did not even ask it of them. T
They just know it is easier and probably better for them too LOL
Yet they care.
My hero kids
Choose the right
That takes courage and commitment form any of us
Let alone a child.
An unexpected migraine set off and the kids let me rest for an hour.
I awoke and it is gone!!!!!!!!!!
ya!

The children and I finished out three day long monopoly game.
I won but had each kid go out all the way by mortgaging and selling off. I showed how I still had to purchase the properties out of the mortgage to the bank.
I told them how it is like our country right now.
I had dove play out to the last dollar and would not let them quit.
At first she was in tears. I leaned her into challenging those tears into dignity and finishing with character. It was awesome!
Then Dash had his turn.
So the game was a lesson in stewardship and failure with dignity.
Then they each had an extended debt of only a few dollars. So while we were all enjoying ourselves putting the game away.
We spoke of how true character would even go further than that.
To pay each debt to the end of what was owed when your able.
Not to just leave a debt standing to be finished with it.
It was so cool!