The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today... Sunday, September 6, 2009

Outside My Window...
dusk falls upon the last day of a long week end

I am thinking...
I am not able to get the ...bold print on this sentence to release so...I will just let it go. There is so much I have to let go.


From the learning rooms… Thoughts of economics, organizations ideas of things yet to create

I am thankful for... The love of my husband, the tenderness of my daughter and her kind spirit. My darling sons humor and vigor at life.

From the kitchen... homemade bread rises to be baked before bed. A new tool for the kitchen. An electric skillet was purchased today to help keep the cool of the kitchen and continue to prepare good foods. Ideas of using it on the porch as I do the crock pot..

I am wearing... Royal blue work out pants with a stripe of green down the leg, a top with flowers on the blue background. A blue head band and no jewelery for I just kneaded bread

I am reading... "A few different books that have fallen by the side and await my free moments to read them. A bead magazine that I love.

I am creating... A nursery set, Christmas gifts. Order out of chaos in the studio.

I am hearing... The children in the office playing a game on the computer with the daddy man.

I am going... To get my flu shot in the morning. To the school to set up my service calender. To the baby shower of my Grand Nephew next weekend.

Around the house... I had an extra child again this weekend, we had a lot of one on one times with the kids. Each child was taken out to find new shoes . Many wants and all the needs were met this weekend for overtime made us able to gain those things.

One of my favorite things... The intimacy with my Beloved, how we see the things around us and can easily identify with each other with understanding.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week: Lunches, menu, food prep, some garden prep as weather permits. Sewing the pillows and the little fish for the nursery set. Making more order in the sewing studio. Getting together with a friend on Thursday.
Pedicure. Sewing a curtain for my back door. Home decor. Freezer inventory, bills, budget update. Many many sewing jobs to finish up.


Here is a picture thought I am sharing…

My new skillet and the pancakes made for the weeks breakfasts.

A day with my pre teen dayghter (Agile Archer)

Oh what A pure joy it is to have a daughter. Dove Now known as Archer was so much fun yesterday. She is 12 now as you may know.
Yesterday the Daddy Man had an impromptu birthday event to take the Dash Man to.
I had My ASG (American Sewing Guild) meeting to attend. So Archer without option attended with me much to her chagrin. She did not want to go and made it quite clear. As I had also made clear to her that this time she was without option and would be attending with me. She was NOT happy about is and shuffled her way to the car with her CD player in hand.
Once in car I thought to enter into her realm by asking her if we could put her music in the car stereo. She perked up and gave me the CD. It was the Jonas Brothers of course:)

I thought as I listened to the music of those days when music spoke for me in my youth and listened carefully to the lyrics. As we drove along making comment (positive) about the songs and what I liked we began to bond. An ease took over the air as we made our way to my meeting. She began to chill out a bit. So even though as we parked and began to get out of the car her refusal was voiced...I continues to go into the sewing store. She kept saying how she HATED sewing! Alright I told her but then asked her to try to at least be respectful and behave as to not to embarrass herself.

Oh her sweet little face looked all crinkled up and not one bit pleased oh so evident did she make it to all that she was disgruntled.
She began to play with my camera...

As you can see it kept her well entertained.
She took pictures of the items at the show and tell. The camera kept her entertained.
It is at times like these that I remember her Special Needs to be able to let her meet her own needs and to comfort her own self. We were in the very back row and she was not disruptive.

After our ASG meeting we got out the door and she brightened up! She was so beautiful and proud of herself for making it through the meeting. Of course a tootsie roll sucker from her Auntie helped immensely.

I took her to Mc D. and we had a grown up lunch (no happy meal now) "toys are a waist of your money mom" she said. We ate and she opened up to tell me of her experiences in school and with friendships. It was dear and a beginning to her ease.
We drove over to a shoe store...it was only in the high 70's! So pretty and I was able to be out with her. We tried on shoes and she shared her tastes. She was really transparent. She and I bought nothing then went on to another store. We spoke about all the shops that had closed down and how empty the parking lots were of shoppers. We went to the second store and tried on shoes.

She is now in the smallest of woman's shoes or the largest of kids shoes. She tried on all sorts of shoes and the persona that goes with them it was fascinating! She tried on spikes and we spoke of the women who dance for men and the lack of self worth they must have to do so...and how bad their feet must hurt. Every flat we could find hat what my sister calls toe cleavage. YUCK! as Archer said. She had her arrow set for what she felt exampled her own character. Nothing she could find. So we went to the third store. Again Nothing! The wheels tuning all the while as she tried on the persona of shoe after shoe. We were relaxed. Laughed and spoke about how nothing she liked and by the hand she took me and out the door we went empty handed store after store. If it was not what she liked than she did not want the money to get waisted on it. Gotta love that mentality. It took some work to foster it.

We went back to the first store near our car, but we stopped at a beauty supply store. I had her look through the brushes (my brush is used by her daily) she learned of boars hair bristle and tried several and decided on the one she best liked. It was so cute! She looked at the nail polish and spoke of how she might like to use black...asking for my thought s I told her I had a little issue with it for it is as death. It sorta bothered me. She then asked what if every other blue black well that was good compromising but still I was iffy on it and that I thought it was sorta creepy. The clerk GAVE me a $26. bag? still sorta trying to figure that one out. The shampoo and rinse I buy in bulk perhaps that was a deal they had going. I gave Dove/Archer the bag and she was so happy. We spoke about Goth and she told me how she felt about it. I LISTENED...then I agreed and shared a few feeling I had on it. She said that she really did not want any polish but sweetly thanked me.

We went back to the first store and she found a very cute sensible closed soft souled shoe. I got a pair as well it was a buy one get one 1/2 off. She thought I got the second as one for Dash and when she realized that I actually got the pair for me she was so happy! She said Mom don't you let him make you feel bad either no matter how big a fit he throws mom you deserve a pair just for you! Oh wow what a sweet girl!

Well last night I lay beside her well into the night as she opened up the deepest reaches of her thoughts...as I lay there she held my had...this the second night in a row she just wanted me to hold her. Something tells me there is a secrete to be told that needs utter safety to let it out. I trust her that she will tell me one day. I told her of a few things of my youth as she asked each question. I shared with her how wonderful it is to be a woman and a wife and Mother. How even though it is so hard sometimes I really love it. She just pulled my arm around her tightly. Talked and talked and talked. She told me how she has had insomnia a lot and that she is a nocturnal person. I told her I would ask her pediatrician about it. She spoke of becoming hormonal...She HATES hormones:)

Boy we get that ! :)
Alas my back could no longer endure the twin bed blues and I excused myself to go to my bed. It is now 10:45 she sleeps still. She really needs it. It is a hard life when your 12. So many players at school. So many new things to experience.

She loves to write like me. She said that she loves to write and write and she filled 2 1/2 pages in her journal and when she turned it into her teacher. The teacher said "I did not tell you to write that much..." she felt afraid she was in trouble. then the teacher concluded " I'll just give you extra credit for doing so"...she was so relieved and happy that she got extra credit.
Oh she is so sweet she even got extra credit for the math she did above and beyond.
I have a wonderful little soul to tend here.
She has to deal with strife with the other kids and behaviors that trouble her. When I asked her if she would like for me to look into home school for her again she declared "oh no mom, I really like school I would really miss all the friendships and it would really just not be as good mom. It is hard but it is really good for me.

My girl opened up last night because after many hours of time she had her ease and she was safe.
It is a gift and a joy to raise her.

I see her needs yet her abilities shine brightly, her potential vast.
She is an Agile Archer, sure and true. What a beautiful young lady. An amazing woman one day to be sure.

Wonderful Cloudy Morn

I cried out to God and He heard me!

Steve and I sat out and shared our morning and a cup of coffee it was cool and the sky dark and wonderful. We are all enjoying the cool. I have had the proper appoligy to my sweet man that I will use more care over myself. This was a very scary thing to have happen and Steve is concerned I do not repeat performance.

Sewing guild today. So I hope that I can bring you some nice images when I return. May all of you have a good morning. I am so refreshed to finally be able to be out doors. These long hot summers really make me yearn for the cool.

God knew and heard my cry for actually I think I was at my wits end with the heat.

Bee Bliss

Water storage and whatnot

My little guy had a breakfast fit for a fiest yesterdayThat bowl of tomatoes was gone shortly after school.
He is growing so fast. He sorta looks sad in that picture?
He really likes being home.
I wish I were still able to homeschool them.
God said no, so I just am able to not go there in my mind.

With this heat the hens were not laying well so I broke down and grabbed eggs from the market...happened that they had some that the expiration date had come up on.
Know this that the best eggs to boil for egg salad are ones that are at the later end of prime. This was a great buy and we got 5 dozen there are few left now. I boiled two dozen and will make the begged for egg salad for Dash.
He eats 4 big eggs with ease (not every day).

It made up for today they fended for themselves.
Cereal and berry juice.
Mom was not strong to do task this early a.m.
I made it to the bus stop and sat over on a bench near a door.
A car pulled up to the children and I was on my feet at the curb in an istant!
It was a step mom speaking to a boy. The kids knew her and I had also noticed her wave to him several times.
To think of all the bus stops where kids have to keep safe without and adult.


Bounty come in all ways

Last night the rains were so good for my soul.
I am not allowed to be out today to recover my fluids internal after the heat
exhaustion. Still a little weak.

I stepped out to get you a photo or two

Dove had the wonderful idea of the garden trash can under the patio eave.
It might of filled to top but Steve was concern it would burst at the weight of it.

The rain tank is happy!
This was the goal!
Now we will just need to get it set up for a hose.

It is so very! humid and very! hot out today.

Here sit I filling my tank up on electrolytes.
I like the Smart Water better not so sweet.
I used up three pedilytes yesterday and still working on it today.

The kids were so sweet this morning.
Dash suggested they eat from the cafeteria at school today.
This being a good and proper way to take care of myself I concurred.
This was the first school bought meal of the year so far.
I am so glad it is Friday.

Dove is so pretty.
The child is now going into my hair car items I have save for her.
Many many years my hair was VERY long.
I have a beautiful collection of barrettes and things. I dreamed on day my little girl would use them so I did not discard them.
Now each day she comes out of my room adorned in a hair clip and a necklace.
Many of the necklaces are alright with me for her to try on ,but not to go to school.
Today I allowed her to ware a necklace that was her great grandmother Jeans.
It is the sweetest thing to see her recognize her beauty in the mirror.

I am resting. Sleep called me and I enjoyed several hours of it.

It is such a crazy thing Susie to have Heat Exhaustion and then sit on the porch in the rain. Oh for FALL!

gully whopper!

Oh the heavens were merciful!
It just rained and poured hard for a good hour here!
Oh it felt so good to sit on the patio and rest.
Temps dropped over 30* to the upper 70's
The steal chair was cool to the touch.
Oh I needed that.

this mornings report .71 of an inch!

Watch out for heat stroke/heat exhaustion

direct sunlight will be 8C higher than the number shown in the chart.

Temperature Conversion
Celsius	Fahrenheit		Celsius	Fahrenheit		Celsius	Fahrenheit
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20	32.0 33.8 35.6 37.4 39.2 41.0 42.8 44.6 46.4 48.2 50.0 51.8 53.6 55.4 57.2 59.0 60.8 62.6 64.4 66.2 68.0		21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 33 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41	69.8 71.6 73.4 75.2 77.0 78.8 80.6 82.4 84.2 86.0 87.8 89.6 91.4 93.2 95.0 96.8 98.6 100.4 102.2 104.0 105.8		42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 55 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 100	107.6 109.4 111.2 113.0 114.8 116.6 118.4 120.2 122.0 123.8 125.6 127.4 129.2 131.0 132.8 134.6 136.4 138.2 140.0 212

I have a couple of down days to spend. The heat exhaustion is under watch to see that I did not do any permanent damage. 100 oz of fluids. Pee on the hour every hour to rid my muscles of the build up of toxins.

Hello from me the old wet dog...
you think I'm gunna be water logged...:)

As much as I am drinking I have yet to get to the every hour to pee but I will rest like I have a choice?

I stopped to see my friend wrong day it is NEXT Thursday. You know I had it on the calendar for next Thursday and though It was a mistake. Now I got into the mall and waited an exhausted hour then endured to torment of walking back out to the truck.
The idea of walking and shopping was just not even an option.

The kids have curriculum night I do not think I can go? I really am not doing real great. I hate to miss it.

Heat Cramps. Athletes are familiar with this syndrome caused by salt depletion. It is easily treated with rest and electrolyte-bal-anced fluids such as sports drinks or drink plain water and eat salty chips or nuts. Avoid salt tablets due to the risks of overdosing.

Heat Syncope. Fainting happens when blood pools in the legs, often after standing too long. It is temporary; being horizontal usually prompts a return to consciousness. The biggest risk is an injury from falling. To help blood return to the heart, elevate the person’s legs, and cool the body with wet compresses and fanning. Turn the unconscious person on his or her side to prevent choking. One exception is if the person has been working hard; then consider the fainting due to heat stroke and call 911. Check the ABCs (airway, breathing and circulation) and cool him or her down immediately. Anyone who faints should be medically evaluated and not return to work.

Heat Exhaustion. This condition is serious and is caused by severe dehydration. Symptoms can include fatigue, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, plus early neurological signs such as headache, impaired judgment and anxiety. Exhaustion causes profuse sweating and cool, clammy skin. Move the person out of the heat, provide fluids as tolerated, strip off extra clothing, and cool them by wetting clothing and fanning. Have them medically evaluated.

Heat Stroke. This is a medical emergency. It can look like exhaustion except the body temperature is 104 degrees F or higher, and the brain is seriously affected. Neurological effects can include confusion, irrational or aggressive behavior, incoherent speech, collapse, convulsion, and coma. When the body’s heat-coping mechanisms have failed, sweating stops and the skin becomes red, dry and hot to the touch. Call 911 and quickly lower the body temperature.

Thankful Thursday

join us here at life taking a stand

There was a song over my head this morning It has been a long while from the last time there was.

Not by might not by power but by my spirit says the Lord
These mountains shall be removed
I will build my spirit in you .
But not by power not by might
by my Spirit says the Lord

I knew that this morning I needed to apologize to my Sister.
I was so afraid.
I knew though that the character of it was greater than my fear.
I prayed a lot during the night and this morning awaited the kids departure to school. I was sitting down to send her an e-mail too chicken to call :) I thought of how I should call. There was an E-mail from her. It was beautiful depiction of the life of Christ in the beauty of sculpture set in bronze. I sent her that email...in her response... she said "you were forgiven a long time ago"... I think I just want to sit here and cry my eyes out in the release and relief of it.
I am so humbly grateful
It has been a busy spiritual week for me.
I am thankful for that...
Proves His love for me all over again ya know.
If error were left to be unchecked well I would of become like them who I swore I would not.
For this I am so very grateful.


My Great nephew is to be born soon.
This is the nursery printThe large blocks are the pillows
Two for moms bed and one each for big brother and big sister
They all 4 will be living in a studio room.

My sister took my nephew and niece scuba diving in their youth.
This baby's daddy loved to be under the ocean.

I have had these blocks a long time
Her fabric is to the right.
Funny I always wondered what this might get used for

I feel a bit of dajavew (sp)
This is a fabric for The mother to be she loves spiders.

I used the edge of the pillow boarder and adhered it to a little box
Lined the top and underside by using iron on fusing
The fringe was also an iron on

The underside is a metallic orange fish scale looking fabric.
This is what baby looking up will see.
I will make little hanging 3 dimensional fish to dangle from it.

My thought is a gift for the Mom of a under the mattress hanging off on the side of her bed caddy for bottle and anything she might need at hand while she nurses in bed.

Morning baking gave me the idea for a faster loaf so that it could be served to the kids for breakfast. Cinnamon sugar was a hit.
Smaller ones for PB& J for their lunches
The larger ones I sliced into two sandwiches for the next days lunch

Last month the garden looked like this.

Yesterday
The earth tilled to 10 inches or so and screened
this 8 foot span done.

It almost killed me.
Sometimes I am just too stubborn.
See Bee Bliss Gardens Blog
I got heat exhaustion/ touch of heat stroke yesterday and so safe and in a cool house I sit resting
I am still pretty nauseous I am going to read up on it to see if I need to do anything for myself.
I just made a docters apt and got in at 10:50 my time
wow how fortunate I am that They got me right in.
guess I am going to take the day off

Today I will be meeting a dear sweet friend of old at a mall
for sodas and a visit while we walk.
She lives so very far so with both our children in school
She thought to meet perhaps half way.
That will be the most of what I do today I think

I am so greatfull I was able to cool myself down
No out doors today.
Oh for fall.

Tackle it Tuesday

Empowering the Adult
Parenting 101

This morning rang frustration as my parenting skills suffered a big wake up call.
Often we say things about how our kids drive us bonkers and I am no exception.
I realized that it was not him per say
but that it was my inability to parent him without the knowledge I needed to address the issue.
My response to him was from a kids perspective.
I love being "kind" to the kids feeling like "oh the poor dears just got home let them chill out a while tell them what to do and then watch myself get angry when they
"let my trust in them down".
WRONG!!

RIGHT...
...is to hold them accountable and not just make life easy for them.
Having them do their chores, duties and homework when they get home is security and that is an innate need .
Letting them know how they can create for themselves the environment they desire.
A "grown up controls them" into the desire of the big kid they are and what they wished it would of been like for them. It is the example they knew.

When my kids got home today first
they wash hands (every day!) this is so important.
They had an apple and a few minutes to talk about the day.

So the timer was set for a 10 minute tidy...

Then for a 15 minute kick back time..,
For Dove TV for Dash no TV
Lie to me about your homework = no privileged.
TV/ computer is privileged not a right
:)
He owned it tonight and apologized for his lies.

Then it was homework time.

It is my ADULT responsibility to hold them to it
not just accept their word
but
to check it.
I got very angry at Dash for he lied to me again...
but I realized that he needs an adult to stand over him and hold him to it.
It was me the "grown up" that really was a thorn in my saddle.

He actually seemed to appreciate it that I caught him in it yet again!
The adult pointed out correct procedure and made sure he got it.
No excuses
he was thriving on it!!!!!!!!!
I gave him a charting system that I will have to check and see each day that he did it.
He can check his own work before he tells me if he is done.
He will know when he is done.

You see Dash is pretty much a genius...no kidding.
He is off the IQ chart for his age range...
off the bell curve ...
off the paper!
He thinks he is too smart to do the mundane...
:)
We have him in an Extended Learning Program
Being young we do not advance him for the sake of his emotional development.

Smart kids are a hand full and then some.
It is really a gift and a challenge to raise him.

It is all well and good to trust our kids.
I learned though that some kids test the system
to see if I cared enough to really check on him.

Any way after homework...
he now is in a good mood confident in his security that mom is not so stupid after all He finds security in that...
see what I mean about raising a smart kid...

They gleefully did their chores!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jaw dropping to the floor once again...
They then had the down time all done by 4:00p.m.!!!!!!

I was able to have supper done
not having to wait on Dove to get her dishes done.

No more Grown up nagging about
"you need do get your home work done".
Dove.."Get your dishes done soon dad will be home...
I need to do the kitchen...soon Dove please get them done"...
Then in utter frustration yell at her to get them done embarrassment because Steve is going to walk in the door and the kitchen is not finished.


"Adult"
lets them know what is expected of them
and holds them to it.


I must of been a hand full!
I am told that I too am way intelligent...
perhaps that explains some of the "grown up's" frustrations and abuse on me as a kid.
Come to think of it the siblings who were very smart got the worst of it.

I must keep my adult in charge.

Grown up verses Adult
Over at A Life Restored I will do a post on this issue
Including the way you can tell who in in charge of your parenting:)

To those of you who were raised as Adults more power to you!
Your example to the world around you is priceless.
I am wishing I had your parents
:)

But for those of us who had to grow up with grown ups who were never the adults we needed
we have to become adults with intentional vigor.