Thankful Thursday

Oh life the simplicity and beauty , the wonder and excellence of waking to begin a day.
This was one of those surprising mornings, rested and refreshed into a routine sat I up in bed at or before the alarm. Equipped with the faculty of mind to proceed into washing my face with a warm cloth and smiling at the reflection of the day.Seeing my eyes looking back with a peace. That peace of  ."all is well with my soul". This day began today ready to walk into.

Posting on this job over at the "A place to create blog" I thought of the good life I am so honored to enjoy.

Time spent showing and discussing with my daughter the facts of life and the images that so explained the things she is so curious about. Openly speaking of the wonder and the holiness of procreation. The purity of what it was designed to be. Telling her of what ways it has become polluted with ignorance and selfishness. A really God gifted moment in time.

That beauty that each day finds simply under the wing, under the branch of time spent peacefully resting and walking under the shadow.

Outside in the garden were carrots and celery that was trimmed and washed for the children's lunches.

Herbs and flowers surrounding me.

 

The Iris now have said fare thee well until the new Easter of next year.

Remind me that even once risen how quickly the fading of remembrance once the holiday is gone.

 As the children depart and the flowers thirst I stop to give them drink knowing that rest is calling me to avoid the pain medications that lay aside for me if needed.

Better off not having need of them. My body saying "easy" slow and easy.

A neighbor sees me in robe and jams and said "you look tired today"?

Kindness and love notices these things, as I tell her of Tuesday having surgery.

Ease is coming on me about the bone graph. It is a cadaver graph, a gift from one who's spirit now gone on leaving a body to help and other , to help me.

I think it is due to now change my drivers license to be a donor.

The sad little bed for flowers hold only the dahlia promise for this year.

I am late to plant here and in the garden.

 The world spins in his control.

Today I heard of a fire ball in the night sky over the Midwest at 10 p.m. last night.

The signs and the wonders all at hand are unfolding.

 

This weekend we removed the old play structure and gave it away on Creigs list to a sweet woman who drove many many a mile to come for it.

Now the children were caught enjoying a chance to dig. It may just be taken advantage of for a lemon tree just begs to be planted there.

The whole is half dug:)

Oppertunity can be found in many different little life annoyances.

How wonderful that is really to see life through those eyes.

The seasons of childhood have entered a change. it will be my hope to offer a tether ball or some kind of thing for the kids to enjoy this summer.

Day before yesterday a visitor of a thrasher came up to me while I was in the shed out in the garden.

He spoke to me of safety and knowing how to trust just hours before the surgery.

A gift a treasure held now in fondness.

While the grandchildren once feared I would never see sit waiting here yesterday just for me.

The children call me their grandma.

So sweet and so dear

all I have need of and so much more and beauty envelops me.

Now I know I must rest a while.

May beauty be found in the simplest of things today for each one of you.

Aphids! In the Garden

Although my garden gate and shovel lock keeps the dogs out , it did not help a bit when it came to aphids.

I have been spraying, but they too like my crop. I have shared enough with these little thief's!
Out they come. I had sprayed and done the things I knew to do. So I pulled the plants of choice. They had been weakened to the point of no return. Three zucchini and one crook neck yellow squash. the beans were the next target and I put a halt to that!

With the exception of the one yellow crook neck no more squash.
Mr U needs to get some trellis for me , but it is not happening. So I improvised for now but the next time the trellis will be ready before the seeds go in the ground. I was of a mind to do it then but was talked out of it. ARG> I was able to use these small stakes to start them. My concern is that the plants will have to be harassed when they out grow these stakes.

I have a good start on the snap and pea pods. They are so tender.
Just yummy.

The beans here are happy so I think that I will plant more along this wall. The whole family likes Beans. These are so much better than canned and I get about one meals worth a week now.

I took time to refill my medication case. I got off track this week and have been a bit off because of it. One of the medications is for a strange thing called angioderma (discovered the hard way when one half of my face swelled to the point of a fat tong ER was required), I am allergic to myself:) If I neglect this medication my body swells and everything from breathing to my joints are effected. I missed two doses this week. So I have to keep this filled so I know that I have taken my meds.

I started tinkering with some Christmas earrings.

The kids are going to a movie night tonight. The entry is a non perishable can good.
I pointed out to the children, yesterday how the big collection box is almost empty.
The children understand that things are becoming tight for a lot of folks.
Dash asked me if they could share a lot and so I set up a box for each of them to give tonight.

Remember your local Food banks this fall.
I know times are tight , but there will always be those with more than and with less than you.
When I was a child it was the Salvation Army that kept us from having to eat that oatmeal (often without milk) for each and every meal. Poverty strikes folks hard.
The children often are the ones who suffer for the parents intentional and unintentional mistakes. Often the folks did nothing wrong, and everything right, yet still they need help.
Please share generously.

Well I better get to chores.

Licked my Wounds...

Well, I gave myself and hour after the children left for school to go in lay down and just feel bummed. I thought of something my big sister told me once. She said "I give myself an hour to feel the misery then tell myself , get up now and go on..."
So at about an hour my sweet heart called to see if our Dear Son rallied.
He roused my this morning with a boo hoo about school and just really put it on thick. So finally I told him I heard him, I understood he did not want to go. We (hubby and I ) prayed over him and queried over the reason and there was non to be given . He just felt out of sorts and a bit panicked and afraid. So I had to let him overcome. I could not make it all go away for him.
At last I told the sweet child to stop, I told him I understood and that now he needed to stop whining and bemoaning to me that I had had enough. I was typing to a friend and I wrote that I felt "stressed out". He had read it over my shoulder went into his room and just seconds later came out a new kid! Ready for life and its challenges. I was impressed.
The garden needed some love so I took my soul and my bones out to tend it a while. Pain in my back is a real strain today. It really hurts! Well The pea's and beans are now better tied up. There was a handful of green beans for supper and I grazed the few sweet tender peas the sugar snap variety. No pictures the camera is in the car that Mr U. drives.
The hens gave me two eggs.
There was actually a phone call on the camp trailer out in the drive . The sign caught the eye of the sanitation driver. He may be interested , but Christmas may cramp his ability. We have yet to place an add for it yet. Still it encouraged me.
A call came in from Doves teacher, who much to my amazement was calling to apologize for not showing up to the sale. She asked me to bring in some earrings and she would be interested and wants to buy something. I told her of no obligation and how sweet the thoughtfulness of the call was. So I'll take in a sampling of earrings for her when I go to do the service work in her class on Wednesday.
This Parent at the buss stop offered me a tool to use to improve the images of the jewelry when I photograph it. I do not have the stand alone flash that goes with the tool. so he said "I'll have to come up with another idea then"...He made a project of it! The kindness just brought me to tears as I walked back to the house.
I am close to tears today just rather tender. Needing to clean up the rest of the serving dishes is a weight. So off I go I need to toss that anchor over board to be free of it.
Thanks you girls for the kind words.
Denise, Bren and Amrita. There are days when you blogging buddies just hold me up. Today feels a little like one of those days.
I invested in that show and social. I know that one woman , the one who came on Saturday was here for some spiritual awakening. Don't know if she "Knows" him yet but something I had said wisely really struck her. I mean she just stopped and said she never ever heard anyone say it that way before. It was about the wounds we all have and how much we need to see pass the scrap left behind and look into the hearts of one another. We all have that common need of compassion. There was more to it. It was one of those moments when I knew I made a difference in an others life. So if that was all it was about then her heart was well worth the work. I just got to go finish all the work and get it all put away.

I am week and my back hurts .
I know I am loved and supported in my life.
I just feel wherry of pursuing all my dreams to see them falter. What is life if I stop though. I have to follow my heart, do what I know to do no matter the apparent outcome. God sees the grand picture my view is limited. My "vista" foggy and cloudy today.
Oh Girls , I am sorry .
I would be so a miss not to thank all of you who joined me Friday. Who stopped and got off the wheel and came and played at my house. Supporting me and my dreams and talents. I really did enjoy you. Debbie, Lisa,Trish and the sweet ladies that came from Bible study and the neighbors. It was so kind of you all. It was so peaceful having you here and your presence was a real treat.
As awkward as it was to put my things up for sale you all made it feel so normal.
Thank you.

Catering a party

Lemon aide is a main stay around here at a party. It is an inexpensive way to provide beverages for a crowd.Not cheep by any means, but a lot of pleasure for the buck.
Melt your sugar in a glass cup to make your simple syrup ahead of time. Lemons were out of season so I used this.

When loading a platter look for color and shape like an artist would on a canvas. Washing all fruits and vegetables thoroughly is VERY important. I can not stress the enough!

After washing thoroughly clip the grape section into little packages with a handle. This is a little thoughtfulness they may not say anything about , but it is nice that your guest only needs to touch the one they take, and take the only one they touch.

Even when your meat is sliced still separate it. By turning 5 degrees you make the slice easier to remove off the tray.

If you look closely you can see the separate pieces of meat, Your guest again can easily take what they touch.

I have an electric slicer. This is how I can save a bit. This is perchased summer sausage. Use the slicer to make time saved a gift to yourself.

By placing the slices in a different form (shape) it can easily be noted that they are a different meat. Abutting them up to the side of the other in a curve gives your tray movement and is pleasing to the eye. A simple package wrapped with care is a pleasure to open.

Walla! Same with the cheese. Smaller section give a dieter an opportunity to try a little of several different things.

A picture is worth a 1000 word here. I hope you see how I formed the try in a overlapping method.

Wash your veggies!

That is zucchini from my garden.

before I saved up and got the electric slicer I used the hand held. I love old tools. We may not always have electricity to depend on. When the power goes out on a holiday morning I have back up tools.

Preparing Celery. After it is washed and drained cut off the butts and save them for stew or for a base for soups, stuffing and the like. Fine chopped for tuna salad for example.

Everything washed and prepped and set to assemble.

By tipping the basket as it is loaded it will ease the task of keeping things separate.

The "Bunny Basket"!

cucumber and zucchini with the olives pickles both dill and sweets.

Open an extra can and jar them so you do not have to open it when your guest are here.

Chex mix using raw walnuts, pecans and sunflower seeds.
Real butter.

I laid out the earrings on the table for ease.

The big red enamel pot is the Lemon aide pot.

Last night 9 wonderful women came.
You know they timed it at 7 pm sharp as to not give my heart a moment of doubt. We all had a wonderful time and they were able to address some of their Christmas shopping.
Today we opened it up at 10 am. One person came at 1pm,by 3:30 the Grandparents arrived and 3:45 the next door neighbor came. Many folks who said they would show did not. This is life it happens differently sometimes than we had hoped .

I will do my best to be real with my children , yet walk into this with dignity.

This weekend was the big craft show weekend . In three major cities around me there were shows with many tents and major shows. I did not realize this prior to setting my date.

Lots of left over food, but as My Dear loving husband said...I did a great job.
I am a little crest fallen though.

Thursday Thirteen

1. dishes

I started my Thursday the 13th with the dishes. Once the children were off, I hurried into the kitchen and got a good start. By 9 a.m. it was time of use savings on the electricity and I began the dishwasher and clothes dryer.

I had to stop here to rest a bit.

2. Labeling price tags
I was able to to a assembly line pricing. I set up several cards with denominations per sheet. The earrings are finished and separated into category. Glass with glass and semi-precious stones together.

3. Going to Costco

for the big shop for the social, got home and unloaded half way ( the cold stuff)
When 10 am hit it was time for the store to open. I went there and after one and a half hours shopping, I was just finished at the register as Trisha called form her doctors office where I was to meet her. I hurried home and unloaded the cold stuffs and put it away, and took off.

4.Meeting Trisha halfway

s
I left with the table like this to return with what I needed to make the table look...

like this...
That was so kind of you Trisha, Thank you. They prepared the trees (dusted them) and let me use them for the show. This is the Christmas table display.

5. I was able to stop by my hair dresser
I was able to walk into the door, she was available at that moment. I got to get my hair washed and cut and out the door in 15 minutes! No one here even noticed (Kids gave the daddy man a hard evening. He was just over tired)

6. Dropped into the party store and got some balloons
and saw a nice plastic tub for the ice and waters for $.5 well it was in the wrong place it was really $ 9.99...The girl said I can still give it to you because a coupon that was good for $5.with a minimum amount (that I met) qualified me! COOL HA! Oh she gave me two extra balloons, she had made the latex ones neglecting to tell me of the Mylar. I choose Mylar and she extended an unexpected gift to the kids of the two anti pop filled latex ones.

7. Drove on home
to see the mail carrier and give her an invite.
Unloaded the Costco non-perishables and the trees and set up the trees .
Did more labeling of price tags.

8. It is now 1:30 Ye Ha!
The it became 3:15 With the kids home and a nice snack for them .Dash went right to the chores board.
The play date got here at 4:30, expecting the Mother, 9 yr old and a 1 month old when I opened the door ...here was a 14 year old big sister dropping off the 9 year old! The mother has never even met me! The kid stayed till 5:30. Dove will probobly never see her again fot tomorrow she is moving to a new school. The girl played well with my kids. Then my kids hit the homework.

9. Framing the botanicals

I found some frames of things from our former decor.
These I found .25 dents a print some 20 years ago. I fell in love with them then and now again I am just thrill to frame them. Job not done today but perhaps tomorrow.
They are for the guest bathroom they go so well with the curtins and the wall boarder.

10. The kids are now cooperating with a new program I instigated.
Each week they start out with $5. possible to maintain.
Each time they do not do a chore listed or asked of them I remind them once. Itf not done the loose a quarter .

Dash is pretty good and even eager to see what I have written. It is fun to leave little love notes.

His room after 4 days!

That's a seven year old boys closet!
Ye Ha!

11. Dove is easily distracted

she is focused by recourse. Unfortunately she has had a bit more penalty. Yesterday I was told she had done something ,however she had not. I docked her .25 for a lie. Later I recanted and told her truth is just something you should do. You should not be paid for it. It was between us. Please do not lie to me again. I gave her half of the docked 50 cents back.

She really is making good effort. Problem is under the bed she stuffed things/ Each day I will asign a box to sort out.

She sill get docked for not doing her Viola practice. That is a part of what is required of the homework.

12. Never got to the floor...
so tomorrow I will mop.

13. The lanyards...
were my afternoon project,

I had all of them strung, yet needed to finish the findings off.

I had a few ones that have been around. Now...

I have several finished.
Labeling them and pricing can be done tomorrow.