Pullin' weeds and picken' stones.

Yesterday a full day

Had a tea on the porch with a good friend
She is the teacher of our morning women s bible study
We enjoyed the flowers

She wanted to walk through the garden and enjoy the foods.
It was fun to see her feed the chickens, it really slowed her down.


Then I had to run to the city to fetch the repaired hearing aide.
The sweet receptionist Carmon, felt bad to tell me how it was to all come from pocket for us now.
Every expense we now were liable for.
She gave me the aide and then I had told her that we had paid out of pocket in full just short of $15,000. of medical last year, and that is why we no longer qualified. I told her we were debt free of it , but because we did all that overtime to pay off the bills we no longer qualified.
I then told her how I believed that God would honor that effort.


Then I looked down at the aide.
It was out of warranty just one week after the last (of four) repairs. It was not longer under warranty now.
But...
The entire aid had been rebuilt.
My thought ?
"I was under the impression that it would be covered"...
Carmen said" it was!"
NO CHARGE!
Every part of the hearing aide was NEW!
Except the part that the mold slips onto!
I looked at Carmon, and said "I just got to trust God".
She smiles and said "absolutely!"

Well the day was used up as I had to drive back from town narrowly escaping a very bad chain reaction accident that killed some one and injured many others.
A man was drunk and driving a dump truck lost control on the very off ramp I exited onto just minutes after it happened and I was able to skirt around the police cars and ambulances it was real bad. Dump trucks really leave very little left of a car...
So I prayed an shopped.
A refund check came and with my budget was able to get some bulk rice and pinto beans and soy milk.
for free per the Costco rebate
Went over to the bank and did my thing all the while the teller telling me how I needed to pay my bills on line. No thanks!

The chicken scrap was fetched and


I had realized then that I had $50. More than I had thought for I did my own taxes and did not have to pay for it.
After consulting and agreement with Steve I went back and got a beautiful new pot for the growing of foods.

My reward for doing the taxes for myself

Within budget a Black Russian tomato plant
It will go in the big pot withing the garden gate.

Then I rested and did a few tasks before the kids got home.

We are doing a thing now called family ways.
After school I sit with the kids who (annoyed at first) eventually enjoy the time. They each tell me about the day and I tell them all the cool things about my day.
We do a Scripture study and then they are off to independent time before home work. Our family way for Wednesday to Wednesday this week is.
We love and obey our Lord Jesus Christ in all we do think and say.

Verse is
Love the Lord your God with all your heart soul and mind . This is the greatest commandment.




This morning is a fine one!
Trust the beauty around you is shining a spark of delight into your eyes too.

Once the morning began and the lunch for Steve made, Doves bath done and both kids fed. We had a nice walk down to the bus stop my hands still warm from the first load of dishes washed. Dove was tender in her tone and we had a sweet visit for Dash was to the curb at the end of the street before Dove and I hit the end of our drive way. She hushed though once her brother was near and gave him a pre-teen kinda look that said "dang he is here".

They played a bit at the curb and when the bus came Dove ran back to me and gave me a hug good bye. I warmed and delighted me. Dash was a but perturbed because I confiscated the toys the had taken with them. I don't let my kids take toys to school.

When they were boarded I then took my morning walk around the block and found myself happy. Thanking God for the mounds of laundry and the washer that Steve had repaired, the loads of dishes and the joy of the foods prepared on them. These things were a privilege in my mind as the sun called me to remove my glasses (the magnifiers) to have pure light on my closed eyes. It was a refreshing walk . That found my in the front Yard weeding and picking stones.

Pulling weeds is a good thing to do.
It is a chance to reflect on the weeds withing my own mind and life.
Like the weed of choice today (the Indian Paint Brush) the weed was a plant.
The original plant a gift that came in on the breeze. It guards the iris in the center yard. A bit messy in full bloom. A snow ball of little tiny brushes. Hence the name.That is what the flower looks like and can be used for . Oh but once pollinated and dried it is a prolific wonder of the desert landscape. It has given live to at least 200 babies that I have been pulling for a few days time now.

At first I was not convinced whether it was a flower seed I had tossed or the paint brush.
Well Now being sure it is time to pull these little things. The joy is that once identified (like thought) it really is easily pulled up. The ones that are a bit longer in the ground come a bit attached by a deeper root. Yet for every one that is in thick rock or light soil the pull was easy. A bit back breaking perhaps. Yet so is most task that is worth doing. ")

Picking the stones from the base of the misc weeds helps me to get a firm hold to pull up and out. Those weeds that break off at the surface (as we all know ) those just come back stronger.
A Dove sat near me.

Pulling weeds and picken stones.

An old song in the mind is...

Pulling weeds and picking stones
Man is made of dreams and bones
feel the need to grow my own for the time is close at hand

Old crow watches hungrily
from his perch on yonder tree
in my garden I'm as free as that feathered thief up there

Rain for free sun and rain
I find my way in natures chain
Tune my body and my brain
To the music of the land.

Back to the music of my life, dishes,
laundry and the sweet chickens need their meal.

Love ya all.
Peace be with ya and over take you with delight.

This bread baking, garden loving woman.

It was a good thing to be home today.
The service time in Doves class room was put off today.
I was tired and needed to nest and feel the earth.
Time in the garden is good for me.
Kneading bread is humbling too, so good for time in prayer.


The girls in the coop needed some new turf so I did some of the dung from the dogs and moved the hutch to greener lands. The chickens were very happy at this. They were enjoying a nice sit in the moist green grass that was high to them. then I mucked the coop and got the treat of petting Maybell and Prissy. They gave 4 eggs today. The new saw dust made for a nice place for the hens to come investigate. They are very curious birds.


Time in the garden gave way to my first salad.
Now that was just too....cool!!!!!!!!!garden salad

bread to bake
Today I tried a new thing or two.
Olive oil in the bread
Honey to sweeten it.
The yeast LOVED the living honey.
It was a good time to make bread today for we are low on the sliced loaf.
It is good to do the recipe and just make two of the loaf and then other things to fill in the menu.

This was a joy to wash my
living foods. Several little life forms took a swim down the pipes as the life in it is a testament to gardening organically.

The beauty of
organic earth in my sink.
The simple pleasures.

12:55 a fast lunch and out the door looking well lived in
this vessel of clay and flour. :)

At this point I had a commitment to attend
"Moms in Touch", for intercession. As much as I did not want to exit the estate...I am so very blessed to have done so. We three come together one mind one heart and one purpose.
In joint prayer it is the least lonely a human can be on the earth.

Upon my return!

Hello!
Gently I kneaded out two loaves for sandwich bread.
Then I had an idea...Oh ya!

Alteration from traditional Cinnamon Rolls
Brown sugar was used, butter and my trick to charm the heart a bit of clove.

The baking center is awesome.
Everything is so much easier.

My happy yeast was so excited by the brown sugar.

Bread sticks with herbs De France and garlic salt.

While all this was baking I set the task of securing the tomato plants from the dumb (to smart for my good) dog!

How is that for a ridiculous menagerie!

The chair covers were my inheritance when my first dad died.
I really do not want them out in the sun like that.

Man I hope I get to harvest these fruits.

Speaking of fruit.
The fruits of my labor.
Yet the dishes call you know oh boy howdy do they call!

A simple frosting of powder sugar , vanilla and soy milk was drizzled on the rolls.
Yes they were very very good! :)
Danger...step away from the roll...
Melted butter was drizzled over the bread sticks.

A real "garden Salad"
I did it!
after a lot of hard work and persistence I grew a salad!
Made the bread and served it all with spaghetti marinara.
Note the harvet of strawberry was four of them. Just enough to adorn each plate!

Word filled Wednesday

Jeremiah 9:12-22

In Zion the voice of joy and praise used to be heard,
while the people kept close to God;
but sin has altered the sound,
it is now the voice of lamentation.
Unhumbled hearts lament their calamity,
but not their sin, which is the cause of it.
Let the doors be shut ever so fast,
death steals upon us.
It enters the palaces of princes and great men,
though stately, strongly built, and guarded.
Nor are those more safe that are abroad;
death cuts off even the children from without,
and the young men from the streets.
Hearken to the word of the Lord,
and mourn with godly sorrow.
This alone can bring true comfort;
and it can turn the heaviest afflictions
into precious mercies.

Good everning

I think I am eshausted tonight.
I have such a strange mood.
such a busy day...not a free moment literally for 6 am to 4pm then a play date over and that kid left at 5:30
Steve walked in the door at 5:45 hungry and I battling with a can opener and a phone that was ringing and ringing, the machine catching the call, so the kids who were doing homework could finish. It was the same kid hung up 1st time , left msg 2 nd time then called again all back to back dialing as fast as she hung up!
At the end of the spelling test for Dash and the blender grinding the beens at last it rang again! a different kid!
I just came undone.

Telling Steve I was tired , he not realizing the place I was in seamed to be indifferent to me.
I do not subscribed to this "pretence" of prov 33 fake greeting of "Hi sweet heart smile", and force a perky attitude.

I was tired ,worn and wanting for some tenderness.

I truely do believe the proverb model. yet today my cup was empty.
Asthma kept me up all last night. That and allergies.

I feel the many in the circle around me to be a bit indifferent to my feelings and the tenderness of my heart.
I see the things that around me displease me and good old prov wife I keep still and pray.
When I am tired it wears me out to do so.

I feel angry tonight and hurt and worn out. grieved and hurt . there are three women who have recently in there pain struck out at the air and I was in the midst of it, the fallout upon me.

Others have misunderstood the care and protection I express.
Still others judge me wrong as if It were a pleasure to offer hard news. News that killed me to present, news that scared me to the core over the fear of "doing it wrong". Yet I did what was required of me with as much kindness and tenderness as I could .
It seems I am a target for the hurt and exhalations of so many.
Normally I sorta think well "hurt people hurt people"
I must be pretty safe to be treated with such disregard.

Honestly though ,
I think tonight in my fatigue my hurt has lost that veil.
It is raw and exposed.
so in that i become even more vulnerable to more hurt.

I better just go get some strength and then do something to fill my cup up.

I hurts though so...when those I love those who's care is at the forefront of my mind for ...assume I am anything other than who I am...
To be true to who I am I just hold all in. Never an apology received by some they are just safe enough to come back to the safe rock and receive from my offerings of care only to target again the safe one when they act out.


I could say I just dont understand it, but the thing is I do.
thats love , that is my choice to love. to hurt to deal with the insults and the misconceptions and yet to be unwavering. I can not fill everyone's needs. I am going to let expectation upon me down.

I am hurting so badly over the loss of my nephews promise and potential. The life that could of been lived and the joy that not only he but all those that he loved could have known in and through him. Not only him but the others , lives compromised and lost to the dragon of this world and the error of hearts hurt.

So this post may be error as well.
I am tired of being treated as if I do not bleed. My veins run a bit dry tonight.

for those of you who offer me kindnesses, you are a balm. thank you.

The Simple Woman's Day Book

For Today...

Outside my window... Spring teases with 90 degree day over the weekend and now a 70 degree day today...Grass is seeding and the allergy season has begun.

I am thinking... I will go to Bible study in the morning and walk into my day with courage.

From the learning rooms... I learned some good tricks for the strawberry pot. Add peat to the holes and also a bit of pebble to the top hole so as to not displace the soil when I water. I have been watching a show or a channel called create. I love it.

I am thankful for... My Dove's character she is now defending the underdog at the cost of her status. I am proud of her.

From the kitchen... a soft light under the cabinet and all is finished for the day.

I am wearing... Capri jeans and a t-shirt type top that is rose colored. Many combs in my hair for I had been working hard physically all day.

I am reading... Old home school documents on character, developmental timing and such.

I am hoping... To finish the laundry and sorting of the piles that are left from reorganizing the unpacked boxes. I want order! A quilt for the big master bed and curtains.

I am creating... A baking center to save on preparation time and energy.

I am hearing... crickets

Around the house... laundry is half washed and folded. many things to hang and put away. Clutter piles beg to be ordered and with Federal taxes done I must get a state tax book and finish it all up. We had $23,ooo in Itemized deductions. $14,900 in medical alone OUT OF POCKET! NO DEBT! we paid it all off! Praise GOD!!!!

One of my favorite things... making something to give.

A few plans for the rest of the week... cleaning, order, crafts and service work at the elementary.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

I need to get my starters back up and rising.

Tackle it Tuesday

Hello, This is the thing that has been on my heart to do...just for me.

My sweet husband noticed that my light was flickering and so for one of the gifts of recent he replaced the bulb for me.
I became inspired to care about my pleasure in baking.
Now that bread baking is a weekly task,
and I am noticing how disorganized my steps are this needed to be addressed.
I began by reclaiming the two drawers the one on the right had all the misc lids in it.
The one on the left held office type things and just misc junk.

One the right is now my Kitchen Aid Mixer parts.
With the large parts underneath in the box.

Lunches are now a normal daily occurrence and has been for several months. The savings is fantastic. However early morning sleep girl I am had a mixed up process. Now it will be much more stream lined and efficient.now
With the Salt Box hung, the rolling pin here and both mixers a baking center is established.
The flour grist mill is on the far left. The heavy duty mixer next to it, and the canisters with needed daily supplies near. I am moving these ingredients out of the pantry.

Far left drawer begins its collected items...

Now
Now it is ready for mixer use, and biscuit making as well as the napkins near the kitchen table.

Far right began to formNow
it has come together...
All measure, scoops, and hand made wooden mixing spoons at the ready.
Also funnels for canning, and pastry knife. I have a bit more to do here.

NOW
Below far left is all the baking pans, trays and cooling racks.

This has come together as well. The mixing bowls, rolling sheet, mixer and plastic.
Lids in large baggies separated and boxed, the kitchen aid box. and the cake pans that I do not hang up.

NOW
Above is the canning jars at my ready (they were out of reach above the refer), small plastics for lunches and recycled jars too. This is two sets of China, one is inherited and the other the china of my youth. These are serving dishes and such. Punch cups for the big punch bowl.

Now
Upper left
Sifter (no more bending to dig it out of the other corner, measure cups (some are in the sink) and storage for the sandwiches of lunches. Tins with the cup cake papers, candles for cakes and some cake stencils, cookie cutters in the tin, and jello molds in the other big tin (they are antique, inherited). Above are the pie plates, chopping cups and the spring release pan.

no more tool drawer
He has a shop for tools!
:)
NOW
Now in center, towels for morning lunch making, baggies (no more going back and forth to the pantry) all the decorative small cutters for pies and cakes. The cookie press and a salt shaker.

By and by these will have
Flour, sugar, brown sugar for dusting, baking powder (the jar is being washed) and soda. Yeast in the small one.
These jars have been collected over many years they are very old.
I have never been able to enjoy them like this before.

I will most likely tweak it a bit as I use it.
Less foot falls more time to play in the garden :)

So as for Tuesday...

There is Bible study
4 classes of 28 kids to present
Art Masters to
Fetching the chicken scrap
Shopping a little
making beans
Doing a bit of baking
Home work with the kids
unpacking some more
organizing too.