Computer Break

Away from my computer for a bit, see you next week!

Nature Books

This week Eli and I have been enjoying a small pile of nature-themed books that I ordered from the library. We've been browsing through, discussing, and reading the following:

* "All About Frogs" by Jim Arnosky
* "Sky Tree - Seeing Science Through Art" by Thomas Locker
* "John Muir - My Life With Nature" by Joseph Cornell
* "The Flower Hunter - William Bartram, America's First Naturalist" by Deborah Kogan Ray
* "Henry David's House" edited by Steven Schnur

Christmas Dishes in July

My mom gave me my birthday gift today - a set of Christmas dishes for 4. She thought they would be fun to use for a Christmas tea party and bought them for me at an auction where she got them at a terrific price. Plenty of time to plan my menu!

The Goats' Playhouse

The boys built a playhouse for the goats yesterday out of a bunch of skids. I'm not sure who's enjoying it more - the goats or the boys?

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY - July 27, 2009

Outside my window . . . the sun is rising, my purple coneflowers are in bloom, and the flower beds are glistening with the rain from last night.

I am thinking . . . that I have much to do this week but desire to do it all deliberately and well instead of hurriedly and without joy.

I am thankful . . . for all the rain this past week on the garden, for the big sunflower M. "picked" for me from the garden and transplanted beside the porch, for a God who is quick to forgive again and again and again.

From the learning rooms . . . readin', writin' and arithmetic plus some neat library books I want to share with E.

From the kitchen . . . we'll finish up the shoo-fly pie that I made from Friday. I'm not sure what supper will be yet.

I am praying . . . that I would walk with the Great "I AM" in the present, not stressing over the past or worrying over the future.

I am wearing . . . my pink nightgown and purple robe.

I am going . . . to pick up some chicken breasts for the boys' to make chicken spaghetti and some chicken FEED for the chickens!

I am reading . . . "The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life," "Vision for God - The Story of Dr. Margaret Brand," and I'm re-reading "At Home in Mitford."

I am hearing . . . the boys finishing up breakfast, the washer running, and birdsong outside.

Around the house . . . schoolwork, finishing the laundry for the boys to pack in their suitcases for a trip with their cousins, a few errands, and getting an idea of how to flesh out the rest of my week.

One of my favorite things . . . iced lemon pound cake from Starbucks (a treat from my sister on Saturday - I finished it with a cup of tea on the porch this morning).

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . a library run to return books and pick up summer reading program prizes, to Target to buy sneakers for Eli and jeans for Caleb, to the orthodontist to pick up extra rubberbands for E., cleaning the house and packing.

Here is a picture thought:


The Simple Woman's Daybook is an original creation of Peggy's. As Peggy is taking the summer off from hosting the Daybook, Grandmother Wren is filling in for her. If you'd like to participate and/or view other's Daybooks, click here.

Birthday Outing

My sister took me on a birthday outing today in the little town of Lititz. We spent the morning browsing through the lovely shops - my purchase was a book by Dietrich Bonhoeffer and her's was a pair of vintage rattan chairs for her deck.


At lunchtime we enjoyed a delicious meal at the General Sutter Inn which was established in 1764. It's a wonderful old place, and our luncheon was delicious - Chicken Lemon Rice Soup and Pulled Beef BBQ Sandwiches (with the best potato chips I have ever had in my life!).



And because neither of us can eat a meal without a bit of sweetness at the end, we stopped at a Starbucks on the way home for a brownie and a piece of iced lemon pound cake.

Thanks, Sis, for a great day!

Like the Little Children

"I was visiting once in a wealthy home, where there was a little adopted child, upon whom was lavished all the love and tenderness and care that human hearts could bestow, or human means procure. And as I watched that child running in and out day by day, free and light-hearted, with the happy carelessness of childhood, I thought what a picture it was of our wonderful position as children in the house of our Heavenly Father. And I said to myself, If nothing would so grieve and wound the loving hearts around her as to see this little child beginning to be worried or anxious about herself in any way - about whether her food and clothes would be provided, or how she was to get her education or her future support - how much more must the great, loving heart of our God and Father be grieved and wounded at seeing His children taking so much anxious care and thought! And I understood why it was that our Lord had said to us so emphatically, "Take no thought for yourselves.""

"Let the ways of childish confidence and freedom from care, which so please you and win your hearts in your own little ones, teach you what should be your ways with God; and, leaving ourselves in His hands, learn to be literally "careful for nothing;" and you shall find it to be a fact that the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep (as with a garrison) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

- Excerpts from "The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life" by Hannah Whitall Smith (copyright 1942)

Pies & Watercolors

This morning while waiting for the shoo-fly pies to bake . . .


we had a watercoloring session.

New Projects

Caleb's recent pinata craze has slowed down a bit. Now he's on to rockets. Inspired by the creation of a rocket in Vacation Bible School last week (which had a theme of Creation Science), Caleb is now working on making rockets of his own out of paper towel tubes. He's anxiously awaiting a trip to the hobby shop to buy some rocket engines . . .

Salad for Lunch

I love this salad and have it almost every weekday for lunch. It's even better with a hard-boiled or deviled egg on the side.

Ingredients:

* Mixed Greens
* Shredded Romano Cheese
* McCormick's Crunchy & Flavorful Salad Toppins
* Torn pieces of Virginia Ham (if I have it)
* Ken's Healthy Options Sweet Vidalia Onion Vinaigrette

Eli's Sunflowers

Eli did a photo shoot in the garden this morning of the sunflowers. See more of his lovely shots here and here.

Wildflowers

I've been wanting a wildflower patch for a long time. This spring, M. sowed one for me, and it is just beginning to bloom. I take great joy in going out early every morning to see what new things are blooming. Eli picked the first of the wildflowers and brought them in - almost excited as me that they are beginning to bloom . . .

Caleb's Pinatas

Caleb is obsessed. Day and night he's cranking out pinatas. Well, actually it's not that bad. But the schoolroom sure is a wreck. Since Caleb came home from the family picnic on Sunday, he was determined to create a pinata that will actually last until it gets to his turn to hit. Seeing that there's a total of 13 grandchildren and he's one of the oldest, he doesn't usually have much hope with store-bought pinatas. So . . . he created a treasure chest pinata - complete with a wooden frame on the inside to make it stronger so that it will last longer. He did a great job with it.

But why stop there? He made Mr. Smiley next and as I type, a big box of crayons is coming to life.

Mary or Judas?

I'm really struggling this week. I have been mentally overwhelmed by various situations and circumstances in my life. Thankfully, the Lord graciously reminded me of something from His Word this morning that is helping with my struggling. I read the account in John 12 of Mary pouring out the costly oil on Jesus' feet and wiping them with her hair. In the meantime, Judas is fussing that this oil should have been sold and the money given to the poor - though what he really wanted was to line his pockets with it.

I realized the great contrast between the hearts and attitudes of Mary and Judas. Mary wasn't worrying about the amount of money, time, or reputation she was giving up. She was focused on serving her Lord - no matter what it cost her. Judas on the other hand was focused on himself - what he was losing by this act of service. It struck me that I want to be like Mary - sacrificing in service for the King without thought of herself and what she was giving up. In contrast, the selfishness of Judas appeared very ugly to me. Yet I saw that MY focus has been in the same place as Judas' - on self.

So the Lord reminded me that I have a choice. I can look at my circumstances and choose to focus on myself and what my sacrifices are costing me. OR I can focus on the One I am ultimately serving in whatever I do and give to Him an offering of myself - of my time, my tiredness, my distracted mind.

Is my mental struggling all gone? No, not completely. But remembering that I do have a CHOICE with what I do with that struggling is a gracious help from the Lord. Moment by moment I can choose Him or me. And that one's a no-brainer.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

A friend recently mentioned that she's begun making her own laundry detergent successfully. You'll find the recipe she shared with me below. I mixed up a batch last night, and it was very easy to do. It's very economical - especially in comparison with the ridiculous price of laundry detergent these days!

You'll need: Ivory soap (one bar per batch), a box of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda and a box of 20 Mule Team Borax (both of which are in the laundry aisle at the grocery), water, a large pot and a 5 gallon bucket.

Shred a bar of soap into small pieces and place in a pot with 6 cups of water. Heat and stir until soap is dissolved. Stir in 1/2 cup of the soda and 1/2 cup of the Borax. Stir well over heat until dissolved. Remove from heat and pour into 5 gallon bucket. Add 4 more cups of hot water and stir. Add 1 gallon plus 6 C. of cold water. Mix well and let sit for 24 hours. Use 1/2 cup per load. On my recipe I noted the date I mixed this up - I want to see how long it will last me.

Forgiving & Judging

"Forgiveness is the direct opposite of judging. Nothing is easier than judging, nothing is harder than forgiving, and nothing can reap more blessings."

-- From "Love & Respect" by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

Picnic at the Farm

The annual 4th of July picnic was on Sunday at the family farm - it's always a great time of catching up with family and friends. Actually, the whole weekend was fun - Saturday was spent working together in preparation for the picnic and in the evening we made ice cream. Sunday was full of volleyball games, snowcone-slurping, a surprise bucket of water balloons, lots of pond play, ice cream eating, Bocce ball, time in the hammock, goat-petting, and fireworks to top it off.

FOR TODAY - July 13, 2009

Outside my window . . . Caleb is tearing apart a pizza box to make a pinata.

I am thinking . . . I LOVE that my children are so creative!

I am thankful . . . for the great picnic this weekend at the family farm.

From the learning rooms . . . we started back to a light school schedule today - Ben did some geometry, Caleb is working on percentages, and Eli studied plate tectonics and petrified wood.

From the kitchen . . . nothing baking with all these picnic left-overs!

I am praying . . . that He would help me live each moment fully in Him.

I am wearing . . . my favorite jean shorts and a black T-shirt with Old Navy in silver.

I am going . . . to pick up some rolls for our burgers tonight with some grilled zucchini.

I am reading . . . "Love & Respect" by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs.

I am hearing . . . duct tape being torn while Caleb works on his treasure chest pinata.

Around the house . . . tidying up from the picnic, laundry, read over Caleb's science chapter and Ben's economics to discuss with them.

One of my favorite things . . . taking care of sweet baby nieces and nephews.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . paying bills, a trip to the market, more school reading, get some photos developed.

Here is a picture thought:


The Simple Woman's Daybook is an original creation of Peggy's. As Peggy is taking the summer off from hosting the Daybook, Grandmother Wren is filling in for her. If you'd like to participate and/or view other's Daybooks, click here.

Beauty in the Mountains

"Those who trust in the LORD
Are like Mount Zion,
Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So the LORD surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever."

Psalm 125:1-2

Blueberries

Pick them, lay them on a cookie sheet, freeze them, dump them in a freezer bag. Wa-la. Berries galore for Sunday morning's blueberry pancake special.

Or use them in this:

Blueberry Orange Bread
2 tabl. butter
1/4 C. boiling water
1/2 C. orange juice
1 egg
1 C. sugar
2 C. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 C. frozen OR fresh blueberries

Combine butter and boiling water in a small bowl; stir in orange juice. In a large bowl, beat egg and sugar. Then add flour, baking powder, soda, salt and orange juice mixture. Fold in blueberries. Spoon batter into a greased, large loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 50-55 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes then remove from pan to wire rack to cool completely. Store in frig.

Tea & Books

Last night my mom and I attended a program done by our local library. It was a tea party & book discussion combined - two of my very favorite things! A dozen ladies gathered under the canopy in the garden of a local tea room on a gorgeous summer evening. We discussed the Tea Shop Mystery series by Laura Child - what we like about the books, our favorite characters, etc. My mom even made up a list ahead of time of little details that she especially enjoyed from each of the books - so organized! We chatted while we sipped pots of Lady Grey and Apricot Teas, as well as playing a game about tea.

I LOVE this shot of my mom -


The tea room provided the tea while we ladies provided the goodies - all of which were from recipes that are mentioned in the Tea Shop Mystery series. We took turns introducing our dishes and then passed them out.


There were so many wonderful things to eat - after awhile, I just took a bite of each and brought a large plate of left-overs home! We dined on:

* Cashew Chicken Salad
* Almond Scones (my recipe)
* Flourless Chocolate Cake (my favorite - Oh, my!)
* Raspberry Chocolate Chip Muffins
* Crab Dip
* Pineapple Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches
* Almond-Cake-To-Die-For (Wow!)
* Sweet Potato Pie
* Chocolate Sour Cream Scones
* Zucchini Tea Bread
* Downhome Cinnamon Raisin Muffins
* Apple Spice Cake
* Sweet Potato Muffins


What a memorable & delicious evening!

Photos From Our Week in the Mountains