Tackle it Tuesday

My big task today was to make tamales, green sauce and a good dinner.
See that bottle of javinaros (sp) well ...
Today I am in a tremendous amount of back pain so I finally broke down and took too pain pills...
You know in order to function and stop crying out.

Well function does not = functioning well...
Ha
That little jar of gold was a gift they are real smoked peppers.
I did not function well...
Ha
I made the green sauce and all but finished added the peppers oop first mistake see that plural peppers....oh no...

So It smelled or rather emitted a very hot scent...
Me silly , on two pain pills me...
Tasted it!
I just dipped my finger in it that is all....
oh no no no
Immediately I was at the sink spiting and clearing with water and almost lost the "cookies".
Dove ran for a cracker for me to absorb the oils. OH OH OH OH OH OH
Well you see that little jar there?

Hell fire in a bottle!
I added two of them.
My apron is off for the day!
function = eating well and not going through hellfire.

My fabric heaven has turned into a big mess!
Neglected sewing Machine and just pining for my attention

For those of you who sew...
We who think of color like a child thinks of candy...

This is my tackle...
Well one of them.
I have so many things I long to create and they are put off on the back burner of priority.

Sewing creating and just having some fun with it.

Oh but the tasks that are never ending call me away into laundry and tortilla making and and and and and ...

well if all that is just going to go on and on and on....

perhaps it is the time to pull this forward.

Gratituesday

I am thankful for pain pills.
children who are loving
Dash prayers
good friends praying
A husband loving and praying
and a back that will soon be better

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today... Monday, June 22, 2009

Outside My Window... Is night in all of it's calm.

I am thinking... How nice the evening was with my friend. We went to a Korean Tea House. It was really fun and relaxing. It was an adventure in the Korean ritual of tea service. Very cool cultural experience.

I am thankful for... Every breadth every instant each life

From the kitchen... Tamales in the morning to make, the chicken has been boned.

I am wearing...Full Make up . Yes me... I have a pink ironed dress on and earrings and a beaded french wire brooch of a flower that I made many years ago.

I am reading...Eldala the book written by the friend I spent my evening with.

I am creating... nothing right now.

I am hearing...Crickets! many many of them!
The A/C unit on the other side of the wall.

I am going...To delight in the love of those whom I care so deeply, the love yes that they have for me but more so the love, fondness and thoughts of them. of you

Around the house...The home has improved greatly. I have been inplimenting some Fung Shuy decorating techniques.

One of my favorite things...My sons Bed time kisses and my little girls hugs.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week...Laundry, tamales, breads baked for hot dog and hamburger buns. Garden care. Child play time with my kids.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing…

We created a little corner desk at the foot of Doves bed and a shelf for her houses.
I have given her the use of an OFF LINE lap top that was mine many years ago.
She is allowed to share it.
We created a family social spot in the family area of the house.
It has been used over and over in just the last few days!
Love it!
It is a little tight but is a really nice feel to come and visit each other.
By making that chatting place I opened up the main living room. It is the creative center for the children.
They are in there watching the TV , well now less TV more creating.
It has a lot of clean up yet, they are using it constantly!
It will have their art books and things on the shelves nearby.
LOVE IT!
yes it is in the living room
lets have some LIVING IN THIS ROOM!
It is not just for show.

Happy are you the Father of our children.

Let us not forget we have a Heavenly Father...

He^a]"> predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will

You are your Fathers Son
My love...

For you did not forget that you yourself being adopted into the embrace of a loving father.
A God who comforts you in every way.
You set to take his example into your life.
As he pursued you.
You pursued your children
Your choice, the way you became a father was one that few men make.

You laid down you own desires and dreams and goals to give them a life.
To give us a life together.

You traversed the globe.
Braved elements that are far beyond the understanding of most.

Intentional was your becoming a father.
To first gain our daughter.
Intentional and with choice were the great risks you took to afford a father to your children.
All of this you chose to do willingly. Your risk to return after the towers of 911 fell...
The risk of life lost and dreams snatched...
Letting go of the certain to risk another chance for your dearly adopted son.
As we set into a trust the accounts and to wills prepared the possibility of loss our own lives...

Your choice for another above yourself and the family secure we already had...

Your a FATHER
For you are for them.
You pursued them and yet still do.

Watch and see that it is good
all that you had risked was rewarded so many times over.

As you lead them up the hills and through the valleys of life.

The example of courage is exemplary.
The humor you have instilled in them make life lighter.
The example of leadership in our marriage is unity that provides a safety too few children have ever known.

In accordance with your pleasure and will you have chosen wisely.
I see that good pleasure in your eyes and theirs.

The consequences of your choices have given you the life of a
FATHER.

So happy are you the Father of our children.

The GOOD MAKERS generous gift.

I received a email this evening...

My dear sweet Donetta.

It was so good hearing from you!

NOW...a check is on it's way to the Bloggers Retreat Fund that has been designated as YOUR REGISTRATION FEE.

So---all you have to do is jump/shout/praise GOD!

I was notified by e-mail that it was to remain anonymous. And it will. So just blog about the miracle of the LORD! Spreading HIS love is the best way to thank anyone!

I love you!


My reply...

stunned...Stunned...Stunned
a fullness envelopes me...I am basking...
kindness got my tongue

Please express my deep gratitude to the gift giver. It is a joy to see and feel the loosening of the inappropriate guilt I have been struggling with once I paid for the airline tickets. I felt so uneasy spending so much on myself when the family could afford so many things with those said funds. Now I take ease...receive this thing that God has set before me an offering asking me my choice. I said yes I really want to go and He said you are there. Stunned it is like that weight replaced with a fullness of gratitude an adventure and the hope for a rest and fellowship.

My dear sister I am tired and this hope and expectation will sail me through the months ahead as I set task to parent and wifery and homemaking gardening and all. There is a window to fix a gaze on to those amazing trees and the lake and the green of the wood.
Those eyes and embraces and risk reward of courage spent traveling across the country on my own with HIM.

Good things in store.
Did you see the post at what happened tonight.
We did the budget and saw we had 73. left to do grocery go look the tab was 73.!!!!!!!!!!! $95 savings!
To funny and fun being HIS friend His presence is awesome!

strange thoughts...
I was thinking about puking last night while I was falling asleep laying there and how wonderful it is when I am even ill that He is right there and so close I could touch him. As he is now touching us.

Steve asked to extend his appreciation as well.
Dove was so amazed too.
just HOLY
stunned
loving you
Donetta

My Dear benefactor
A benefactor is a person who gives some form of help to benefit a person, group or organization (the beneficiary,) often gifting a monetary contribution in the form of an endowment to help a cause. Benefactors are humanitarian leaders and charitable patrons providing assistance in many forms, such as an alumnus from a university giving back to a college or an individual providing assistance to others. The word benefactor comes from Latin bene (good) and factor (maker).

Your generosity is a warm and exciting embrace. I think I am just still in a bit of shook it feels good though:) Kids are asleep or I would be very vocal I am sure. Hahahha
Just can't wait to tell Dash too.

It is good that you make. Love is the only thing that makes me ever cry. Tears heal. Your kindness is healing. I appreciate you heart toward me.

Menu Plan Monday

Good Morning!

Well it is the last week of June already.
Last week I spontaneously added a note to myself on the master grocery shopping list.
see image
Remember to ask specifically for your every need.
Dependence is a good thing in that relationship. :)

This morning the harvest was ready for the Butternut squash that helped itself to grow in the garden.
I did not plant this fellow...
Best guess is the compost.

3 1/2 pounds!
There is tree more in the cue growing into a fine meal for us.
Now butternut is one of my favorite...
cut the squash in half length wise.
Scoop out the seeds (toss them in the compost ya never know hahah).
Perhaps I will save these intentionally to replant later.
Lay them flat in a small amount of water and bake for one hour
Add some brown sugar, or maple syrup perhaps some mace or nutmeg.
Oh man it is really living!

Well It has been a very expensive month for us.
What with tires, a ticket and a retreat so many other little and big hits that we felt we were totally over budget.
I have worked so very hard on the grocery and other expenses to keep to a minimum.
Well to our amazement we kept within our self imposed goals.

So at the end of it all we see we sill be able to do the things we desired and with the 73. left I headed off to the grocery with a hand full of coupons and the work on the lead in adds I did during the week.

Look at that receipt!
My budget was $73.!
Dash wanted to come with me and so I had a bit of a distraction added in.
He was very sweet and good.
Just very VERY talkative.

We got everything we needed and had the coupons for.

Total spent $73.76

Total savings! $95.67

big hug from husband!

Like I said we got every thing we needed!

We are well covered till the first and will be able to keep to goal.
Keeping track of every dollar both coming in and going out is awesome!
We have so much peace.
Our overtime stopped this month.
This too is a blessing for Dash has a visit down at St Joe's Children's the second week of July.
By that time we will be off it for two pay checks of 80 hours each.
We will then be easily able to qualify once again for the 0% out of pocket coverage.
Now we are at 100% out of pocket because we worked so much overtime to pay off the $14,000. in medical copay's last year. We did it we paid it all off no debt.
Do you see it?

Provision and all I have need of his hand has provided.
The loss of overtime was a big hit and yet we made it.
We will now be able to qualify!

Even to the dollar!
Cool
By the way I was not counting the amount because I was interacting with Dash too.

The kitchen freezer became my baking storage near the baking center.
I used to keep it in the outside freezer (it keeps fresher) .
Now it is right there where I can see the flours I have.

Rye, millet, corn meal, amaranth,soy, flax and so on.
This will make baking much easier and now that I am baking every other day that will be nice.

Seven things I love

A sweet gift this evening from Michele at Ripening on the vine

As I read on Michele's blog, the "rules" for this award are that you list 7 things that you love, link back to the person that gave you the award and pass the award on to 7 other bloggers. So here is my list of what I love and who I would like to bless with this award.

I love...

1. I adore the presence of my Abba Papa, Father God, Comforter
To bask in it throughout this life. Every moment never ever left alone.
Always His presence is with and within me. I love his character the beauty of His way, and humor and sweetness. That He means only good for me, never to do me harm.
Knowing Him , His love for me first...
I love that He pursued me

2. Oneness the Unity of mind and spirit with my best friend , my beloved my husband of 27+ years. Knowing his heart is for me and that he loved me first.
Great peace is for me in that he is a man whom loves God.
I love that he pursued me.

3. The unique beauty of each of my precious children. The people who they are becoming, the minds that are so aware and knowledgeable for their age. Hearts that tend to chose what is right. This gives me great peace that It will go well with them in their lives, whatever the battle they may face. I trust that they will like who they chose to be. Having being given the honor and privilege and tremendous responsibility to raise them in the way they should go.
They shine in each aspect. They are the force often used to hone and guide me into righteousness (right of heart attitude and mind:).
I love as in rest in the trust that God has shown in me to do so.

4. I love as in respect and fondly appreciate the unity yet the grace that afforded to those around me is means of peace with all men as far as it is possible with me. The hearts of lives around me it is my great fondness to care and LOVE the hearts of men and women (behaviors aside) boundaries yes. But the attitude of It is no wonder that they behave that way. I grieve for the hearts of others and also rejoice over them. Hurt people hurt people.
I love the hearts of those HE loves for He is my friend.

5. That kindness is power.

6. The holiness of all things He has created, respect for the people creatures the earth and all things living and created in the most amazing wonder. I love wonder having that alive within me and those that I know and am surrounded by.

7. I love humility being able to repent and it be easy in coming.
That my heart is soft and has not been hardened or embittered.
That God won in my life that he made a way of escape through Christ Jesus that I am a free woman under his covering through belief alone in Him and the truth of HIStory.



I would like to pass this award on to the following bloggers that have truly blessed me...

1. Corey at Living and loving every minute of it!
2. Annette at Just Annette
3. Cupcake Momma
4. Susie's Home made
5. Angie at the Knightly News
6. Bren at Pieces of Me
7. David at Sugarloaf Mountain

You are all an encouragment to me.
I love the kindness you have offered others as well as myself.

Sneads Florida Here I come...

Sneads Florida



Now get this....

I had made a mistake on taxes and they then sent me an extra $423.

My bank deposited it into the wrong account on 5-15 -09
So we were trying to figure where that account had received this overage...

We discovered this today.
The account is my little pay pal account.
So it is outside of set budget.

My flight cost (purchased leaving Phx. Wednesday 11:45 p.m. overnight flight landing on Thursday Morning)
$390.

Retreat costs
$75.

Totals Needed for flight and retreat $460.



$423. Tax error refund
Necklace set Sale
$40.

Total Supplied so far...$463.

Now some extra for meals and an extra nights lodging
I have a few months to save and watch that come in...
glory just GLORY!
:!}

Fort Kid Power

As The Laundry fly's in the breeze

Fort Kid Power
is hosting a Play Date

By using large clips and clamp, fitted sheets for the roof and flat sheets the walls summer is fun!
Too hot for them to be out doors this is a great way to add adventure

This is so fun for them
They are all doing art on the floor and the silly voices of imaginary characters are ringing through the air. I have an extra charge today. My dear friends daughter.

Well rest is over back to the many tasks at hand.

I hope your all enjoying having the children home.

Morning beading and yesterdays harvest

A dear friend of mine commissioned a necklace and quadruple earring set.
Here is the necklace so far.

I hope you like it Denise.
I loved the way the movement occured at the junktions

Yesterday's Harvest

Yesterday we cut the first melon.
We were not aware of how long to wait for the harvest and the information was a bit unclear.
I found out this morning that these melons get to be 25 -30 pounds opps.
Well I will cut into a unripe melon today I will see if it is a spent fruit.

We all went to Diann's to go swimming after the heat of the tortilla making left us longing to cool off.
The kids had a good time as so did I. Although I was just worn out tired.
Yesterday I had only a very few hours of sleep to go on and awoke tired and pushing myself into the day. Traffic school lasted so late and it took me until 2 a.m. to wind down.
That was three night in a row of little sleep.

Last night it caught up with me.
We had a nice family supper of beef barley stew and tortillas.
I went and reclined on the big bed and was visiting with the kids.
They left the room around 5:30 to run off and play.
I fell asleep and was awaken at 11p.m. by my sweet heart coming in to shower for bed.
I got up and showered went back to bed and slept until I was woke up to answer the phone at around ? 7:30.
I have the most terrible back ache today.
But I am rested.
:)

My back did not like being reclined that long.
It really hurts bad.
I have been debating with a psin killer but need to be alert to parent and do chores.

Last evening Steve and I went out to the garden and he spotted three more larger melons and a few small ones.
I had no idea that they reached 25 pound or more untill this mornings research.
The instructions showed that if the patch on the base showed loss of white and becoming a nice beige or it the tendrils nearest the melon were drying to harvest, and they were.
I found out this morning ( after harvesting the melon) that it is still a very small fruit.
I'll cut it open at lunch to see.

The retreat contest judging was held and a lovely blogger was chosen.
It was not myself but I will still do my best to finance the trip in October.
I am sorta disappointed and a bit sad for me but very happy for Mare.
Her heart is so sweet.

Well the breeze has dried the clothes on the line and it is time to go remove them and hang another.
Hope your all having a great Friday!
Ya! It is the week end again.
We have an extra child at 1:30 for a rare overnight
I Have my wheels turning on ideas for homemade fathers day gifts the kids can all make together.

Enjoy the day!

Tortilla making lesson

Let me introduce my friend Diann.
She has offered to teach the art of tortilla making to me.
So of course I will pass the lesson on to all of you.

Of course the lesson would be incomplete without the aide of our handy dandy darlings.

Allow the children to measure assisted of course

3 cups flour
2 tbs Baking powder
2 tsp salt
3 tbs Crisco

mix lightly

Then mix in approximately three cups of water and kneed to a soft dough consistency

knead and work into a ball

at soft ball stag when it is just only stick a bit in the center of the dough
Hand it over to the kids to knead some more

split the dough betwwn the kids and have them each form many small balls out of it

Show them how to knead it a bit

give them another bowl to put all the balls in

Meanwhile we moms took the balls and kneaded a bit
then flatten them and spin as your flattening them a bit.

Flour the work surface

The circle of dough is then rolled from center of ball out turn roll center out

Then each time you roll turn
It is picked up and worked or tossed back and forth.
This is an important process.
The ones that I did that I did not toss enough left flour to burn on the skillet.

from center out, tun center out turn then toss.

Look at those amazing hands...

At this point it is very thin
The thinner the better
It makes the most tender tortilla

Now here is a treat for the children called
"monkey Butts"
Yep...
That is what she said they are called.
:)

Heat two inches of vegetable oil till hot
We used the Crisco and she did not like the way it responded.
Vegetable oil is better
I just dod not have any on hand for I use almost exclusively olive oil.

For tortilla a very hot cast iron works best
We improvised with a skillet
it is a non stick
it did not work the same way.
The pan must be very very hot and that is not good for Teflon to be that hot.

These cook fast!
This process is very very fast paced roll and then cook it is an hour in the making of 12 tortillas.
After that hour your pretty tired out for it is a high speed fast paced process that is focused.

Flip and one minute and done!

have ready a towel on a plate
as soon as the tortilla is removed stack and cover.
The steam keeps the stack moist adn wonderful!

Her experience at making them really shows!
Look at that beautiful tortilla!

These are the deep fried Monkey Butts
They are VERY VERY fast paced!
In and turn in under on minute and out onto plated toweling to drain
Then shake powdered sugar on both sides .

The prize!

The children clearing the second plate of fried Monkey Butts.

What a name for a treat.