14 More days till Christmas

 This has been a nice week of tending to the tasks that drew the heart in.

The mantle scarf once spread from one end to the other gave issue to opening the media doors. In the sewing stash were these pearls that were 60% off and stored some years till just the right use presented itself. It seems quite extravagant to use on decor but they really spoke to me. It had to be done and it is so lovey. Sorta a-symmetrical yet now the doors to the media can be open on the other side easily without risk to the creche. It still needs to be put up just so. 

 Dash wanted for the hens to have their own Christmas stockings too.
So sweet. Now the dead hen Prissy also for

" I believe that her gift can reach up to heaven mom"...said he.

 I found this plastic brick sheet in the old Christmas stuff thought it would be a cute 'fireplace'.  Those cute stockings were made by MILove Steve's mom. They are works of  art. The names folded under, are embroidered. Steve and my stockings were gifted by my dearly departed Sister Midge. This year I have noticed how many Christmas gifts she made for me. They are treasures to me now real treasures.

 Father Santa found this PERFECT spot! See the little bird up on the ledge. I found humor in placing it there. The kids did a great job on the tree.

 The house got a good cleaning yesterday. Mopped floors. This little motion detection snowmen set says "I Love Christmastime, Its my favorite time of year".

 Happy children if you could hear the pleasure in the air. They are playing on the wii.

 Yesterday with a good mopping the fun began. I got a feather in my bonnet and decided to scrub the baseboards, table, chairs, cabinetry, bar stools, oven, microwave and the dishwasher. Refrigerator was detailed and all the stuff removed off of it. OH IT FELT SO GOOD!  I got down on the floor and scrubbed the footing of the appliances where the mop can not reach. IT IS MINE AGAIN> I used to keep my kitchen and home VERY clean. Again my home feels more like it should to please me.

This week along with the bread center the drawers were tended. Clearing out things and making order.

This is a project that has been in process. All of the cutting mats and tools are being gathered to be at hand. On a cooking show I saw something in the background that set this into motion. It is yet being fine tuned but it is awesome. Having these tools at hand both protects me from getting a cut reaching into a drawer for them, or bending to get a cutting board. It also protects the blades.

The other night a broken string on the guitar set into motion my husbands fingers on fret. Oh I got so excited! Soon this was the seen. What joy it gave me to see them.

Today is a day full of childrens laughter and the peace of a guest resting in her safe haven . My little soul daughter is here today. Several years ago I was asking God about doing some additional foster care. Dove was begging for a sister.  The conclusion was a willingness to open my heart to another child to help them as long as it would not harm or hinder my two kids. Then this little kid came in our lives. My daughters best friend. One of those rare life long friends.She is so good for Dove.They moved away some time ago and this fine day she rest here while her dear mom goes to the second job. Scraping by penny by penny. This sweet kid is too grown up in the ways of a caregiver.

They all just made a buffet breakfast. Very cute.  Love that independence. Wonder what the state of the kitchen is?

A day of sewing and preperations are at hand.
Thank you all for your comments of late. I need to find a way to respond timely. Perhaps I will try what others have done and just respond on the comment section itself. I really want to acknowledge yet time escapes me. As well as the energies at the end of each day.

The last three days or so it has been an extra early morning to have a few moments in the scriptures. Really wonderful times. Sitting by the Christmas tree before dawn reading by the lights. Cozy.

Daddy man got a little raise that actually met zero balance budget to the dollar it was so cool! It was a little but just enough to catch it to the dollar. We are keeping tight to goal. I am hearing the kids asking eash other

"are you looking more forward to the presents or the family time?" Asked Dash to the others...The little girl here said "FAMILY"!
She only sees her mom very little her having two jobs.
my kids replied "Ya...me too."

Gotta love it!

Thankful Thrusday ( Best Friends)

Hello
After yesterdays adventure with anaphylaxis.
I was able to get up to make Steve's lunch and get the kids fed and off. Then went back and slept till 12:30!
Had a hard start with the kids and feel like a big ol ogre. Lost patience for the first morning in ages. Lots of crow for supper tonight. :(
Thank you for your prayers.


I'll need to think on thankfulness for a while and get up out of this hole called guilt and shame. Got me by the heals. Sad too when behavior is not what hoped to be. Should not have even tried the morning. As a mom/wife we do not have choice though most mornings. We push up our eye glasses clear a fog to see through to the bread on the counter. Package kiss and set aside to the next lot of duty and love.

Choice now lies in simple crow, the eating of the humility that shows my kids yep...mom can bomb but she is willing to return to triage and reconstruct the sanctuary.

Our mistakes are a way to show the way God loves I suppose.
Sitting there waiting for us to sheepishly return and hand over the mantle of shame and remorse. Then He shakes it out and covers our cold shoulders and pats us on the bum in the right direction. It is sure that when we glace back over shoulder to see if He is still watching...He is.
He IS...waiting for us to come back and report how much better we feel afterward.

Join us over here...

Enjoy your wonderful day dear ones.

Prayers please

Hay folks
Dash and I had our allergy shots today.
He did great. This time it was me . I went into anaphylaxis  shock   :(
It was at the office and they quickly had me on oxigyn and injections and pills as well.
sorta wiped out. Steve came for me and we had to leave the truck there. Resting was well very easy to do tonight har har....dang i was doped out
My darlings need a fresh me in or on the marrow. It will also be under observation during the night and in the morning due to the waring off of the drug.
Thank you.

God is so good many awesome things are happening around here. So also smile at the future yours and ours.
Sleep well.

Tackle it Tuesday Organizing the kitchen

The shape of our inside freezer was hurting so it was given a cleaning ans a good redo. After adjusting the shelf and adding the nice clear ice tray the folks gave us this is what was left.  So much more usable.
This is my baking freezer meant to keep all the extra grains and nuts in for any use to create baked goods.

 It is even more in order now in the door

 All the jars now are together on the bottom shelf. Here are grains and nuts.

 All the china sets were set way over above the bread mill. Now the space above me is for what it used daily. There is a bit more tweaking to do.

 Dash wanted to be seen. Often he does not want his image on blog. That is why the kids are less often seen here. Respecting that is important to me. So it is that they have voice in the appearance of their own images here.

So in the process all clear glass and blue is now arranged in the hutch.
Drawers were also done as well as a corner for all cutting supplies. That will be another post. Tired girl
We just returned from Dash orchestra performance and ice cream.

Marriage Monday

My own personal tradition is to have a roasted leg of lamb in the oven and the pungent smell of lamb is a focal aroma of what we are doing. We are remembering the birth of a life that changed all time. 

The Lamb of God. 

No more is the Lamb a sacrifice it is a sweet fragrance. As it goes into the second phase of roasting when the rosemary and the curry meld into the pungency turned intoxicating and the joy begins. We often just nibble on the lamb informally with other raw veggies, salads and mint jelly. Relaxed and the kids run freely and gleefully unabashed in an utter abandoned child like freedom. Chattering getting all the props set. Steve tends to the camera.

We will often drive to go see the lights. Candy canes and treats with drinks in car.

Warm coats too.

On Christmas eve we all do a play every year we have done the Bethlehem journey. We watched them all year by year as the kids grow and develop into  members of the cast.

The Story is narrated by the Daddy Man and silliness and joy abound. He errors in telling it on purpose and the kids with glee correct him. They knew every word.

The children traditionally have one gift to open, we thank the Lord together for the greatest gift.  We serve cocoa and watch the play on the television.

He reads them to sleep as I decorate the birthday cake (Jesus bday). They know it is not the exact day yet do we acknowledge his birth. We will have cake for breakfast on Christmas morning then we are all off to search out the child. Hidden the babe from the creche. I am told not to hide it in the chicken coop this year ")

 Once the kids are asleep it is our time.

My Love is a love that is centered in our mutual bond that is three fold. On Christmas Eve after the children are in bed and the gifts under the tree. A pot of tea and a few moments of getting all set for the early dawn. Showers taken we then meet up for our tradition of some 28 years. 

Steve prepares the bread. I the cup and together we come and sit awhile in prayer. Quietly each and then as one we go before our maker. It is the gift of humility to begin the best of gifts of all. We clear the slate with God. He is so good to forgive us. We forgive all we have ought against as well. Clean hands pure heart.

As we sit together he breaks the bread and with the Bible in hand reads the passage we together take the bread in communion. Together..we gather together and do this thing, then he pours the cup. Reading the passage we sip in our remembrance of whose we are and the forgiveness offered to us.

We start afresh.

We hold each other and in the stillness of the lit tree and the taste of the grape upon our lip we kiss and look into each others eyes. Sitting there we just rest awhile in the stillness. 

As the sleep draws us to pillow we turn off the tree and retire.

We are sure to need no clock to awaken.

Coffee is just a push of a button, and the day is off!

We have a party! 

Cake and the hunt. Then after the babe is in his manger we sit down to have our gift exchange. Soon the Grandparents come and I run in from the kitchen not to miss the opening of the packages. The kids play and the others visit while I finish the meal to serve. With the table set the eve before. 

As Much as I love to serve and go all out for a wonderful meal and all slowing is in order. 

This year with the meal I must pace myself for it is now that my health will slow this bird a bit. My wings have been clipped. Not so big a splash of food. It will be more simple as to not miss out on anymore of our childrens youth while going overboard cooking, cleaning and fretting over every detail.  If it is relaxed it will be done. Or it will not be stressed out over.  It will be peaceful like Thanksgiving.

We will celebrate as we are as much as reasonably able to do without running our-self ragged. It is a new year for us. Thanksgiving taught us so well to make it about the living. Not the food, and pretense. Too many a woman smiles through those exhausting mornings missing out on Christmas day and the reward of offering all they do.

After sup the old folk sit around and the kids play. Day gets done and the house grows quiet. We will go drive to see the lights. The kids play with the new toys. 

There are the friends welcome to stop by, the neighbors who drop off cookies. 

The dogs chew on the big bones they get every year.

Normally I just about pass out tired, this year we intend to keep our Christmas relaxed and centered around family friends and all things living.


Join us over here

Seeking Your Submission

Fa la la la la, la la la la. ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪

Dear Sister,

With Thanksgiving behind us, and the Christmas holidays still ahead, let’s take a few minutes to gather once again for our monthly fellowship. Hot spiced cider is simmering on my stove, and I’m wondering what's cooking in your kitchen …

Romantically, that is!

Joy for Two at Christmas
This month our topic is “Joy for Two at Christmas.” Please join us for Marriage Monday on Dec. 6, 2010. This topic should be fun and easy. We will break for January and resume our fellowship on Monday Feb. 7, 2011. I'll have some brand new topics for 2011 to share with you then!
So how do you do it? How do you keep romance alive during one of the busiest times of year? The following title options give you the opportunity to share your wisdom and advice with us, dear sister. (Note: Number four is a wild card; feel free to make up your own.)
Select one title, and let the Spirit lead you where He wants you to go.

1. Our Private Christmas Traditions
2. Advent Scriptures to Savor Together
3. 12 Gifts Men Love that Don’t Cost a Cent
4. Your-Title-Goes-Here