A lovely link or two

I not only wasn't feeling well this past week but I had to take care of a patient all weekend. After the University put out an alert that the H1N1 virus had arrived on campus, we now think what Christopher had was indeed that virus. Thankfully he is much better but I'm still a little weak, which... if the symptoms I had last week are all I get... yeah! I'll know in these next few days.

Anyhoo... all this to say I'm tired today so I'm sending you to one of my favorite writers. Laniersbooks was one of the first "blogs" (journal?) I read as well as one of the few links I placed on Coffee Tea Books & Me in the very beginning. She doesn't write on her site as much as she used to but you can bookmark it by going... here. Sigh, get lost in the archives. :)

Today I'm sending you to her blog entry on the Young Ladie's Christian Fellowship blog... here. This is a lovely blog and website for young ladies. There are numerous mothers who have written me, asking for such recommendations. I'd completely forgotten about this site until Lanier posted again on hers, giving a link to the site's blog.

I'm far from a young lady but I enjoy it. :)

I continue to be amazed at how much my small garden is producing. I am certain lessons learned this first year will make it possible to grow twice as much in the same space next year.

We also plan to build three more 6' x 6' beds before winter. Speaking of which, it was so chilly this morning I had to wear a sweater while running an errand (note to self... stock up on water softener salt so you don't have to make an emergency run!!).

Enjoy the two links. If you like my writing, you will LOVE hers. If you don't enjoy my writing, you will like hers, anyway. :)

Picture: Homemaking Housewives; allposters.com

Sunday Afternoon Tea... sort of

I was recently sitting in my favorite campus coffee shop, watching the rain splash against the window as students tapped away on laptops and a professor (I assume) sat in one of the cushy leather chairs listening to music from his ipod while making notes on a pad of paper.

Christopher had me meet him there with the temptation of treating me to delicious coffee with heart shaped froth and the best rainy day atmosphere (in my humble opinion) on campus.

While Christopher borrowed my umbrella and walked to the parking garage to retrieve his laptop from the Buick, I called my daughter to share the moment... for it is even more enjoyable an event when one can share it with another who understands.

While I spend a great deal of time at home and enjoy what I do, I must have those moments once in awhile where I get away from all that is pulling me in directions of "must do" at the house. I read and the phone rings. I walk through the kitchen to catch the news on TV and see the dishes soaking in the sink which need my immediate attention. There is the sound of the buzzer on the dryer that the clothes need attention or the stove reminding me it is time to remove the muffins or check the baked potatoes.

At home the garden is calling (honestly, sometimes I think I can hear the siren song... come, weed me, harvest me, etc.) or one of the neighborhood dogs is running toward me for itchies behind the ears (so I am a sucker for their big brown eyes). Inside once again, I notice the chipped paint on the kitchen cabinets and the crumbs dropped on the floor.

That is why I love to get away from it all at a favorite coffee shop near campus... or Panera... or Starbucks. No longer can I afford my favorite latte but coffee with cream and Splenda while away from all the work calling my name... that will do just fine. If I'm fortunate, there is enough change left for a small snack.

Sometimes, especially if it is early in the morning, I take my Bible and notebook. As the sun moves across the sky, I tend to need fiction... or perhaps inspirational reading. On the rainy day in question, I slipped one of my favorite Thomas Kinkade books (Lightposts for Living: the Art of Choosing a Joyful Life) in the cloth Rural Electric bag.

Christopher later joined me with his computer so I set the book aside and chatted about Calculus lectures, the pros and cons of his new professors, and interesting facts popping up as he read the articles on his computer.

The stories led to discussing actors who started in horror movies (which I do not like) and how good Matthew McConaughey was in Contact (a fascinating movie to discuss humanist worldviews... especially with high school and college age young people). What is there about such a place that promotes not only reading and pondering but interesting discussion?

The time quickly passed and before we knew it, Dad was finishing his work and joining us at the coffeehouse to head for home. (I had driven them in so they didn't have to walk the long distance from the parking lot in the pouring rain that morning.)

It never ceases to amaze me about our Lord... the gifts He has given so we may have even a little enjoyment here and there... the small pleasures just as important as huge answers to prayer. So... today I recalled spicy coffee and coffeehouse atmosphere instead of tea time... but coffee is in the title and must receive its' due honor once in awhile. Even on Sunday. :)

Picture: Coffee House Corner: allposters.com

Signs summer is nearing its' end

While it has been good to have Christopher home again, getting up very early for his 7:30 AM classes has meant two mugs of hot coffee with Splenda and milk (cream if I find it on sale) before my eyes open. I was spoiled by sleeping in during the summer months.

There are many indications we are near the end of summer. Not only the weather report warning of lows in the 40's but the rain has turned cold. The daytime temperatures do not reflect a cold rain... that doesn't keep it from being quite chilly.

Another sign of the end of summer? I pulled the Aigner black leather purse out of the closet yesterday morning, the one I'd found at Goodwill for $1.99 a couple months ago. I spent a lovely five or ten minutes messaging it with black leather polish and let it sit for awhile to absorb all that goodness before buffing to a shine. It looks brand new. How thankful I am that people donate Aigner to Goodwill. :)

It replaces my "summer" purse, the very small Vera Bradley navy jobbie with the long handle, purchased at a consignment shop years ago. I love that purse, for some reason in the summer I don't need much more than my billfold, keys, cell phone, brush, emergency snack, emergency alert bracelet, and tiny sugar free Altoids tin... so it is nearly weightless and I throw it over my shoulder while fleeting here and there without a coat (or even a sweater).

Come winter I become my mother and carry with me everything needed to survive a nuclear winter. Perhaps it is the additional layers of clothing as autumn and then winter arrive. Perhaps it is the nesting instinct or just becoming squirrely and needing to store more nuts nearby in case they are needed. I'm certain my family has other definitions but I do tend to carry a lot with me come cold weather.

Another reason I know cooler weather is upon us? Lots of soup bones and a very small amount of beef simmered in the Crock Pot for nearly two days (I let it cool and then put the crock in the frig for one night to skim the fat).

Yesterday I drained the broth into the ancient LeCruset, shredded the beef and added the potatoes, carrots, corn, green beans, and two cans of tomatoes to create soup. Just like Mom made. Now I know why she let the Crock Pot make her broth as she grew older... delicious and easier than using the big stock pot.

There is a gentle rain outside and a vanilla candle is flickering nearby. I have laundry to fold, coupons to cut and file, wooden furniture which must be dusted, and bread dough to start in the bread machine.

A stack of books sit on the coffee table, each holding a bookmark encouraging me to return to their words. I often have two or three different volumes out at a time for I am a fickle reader.

Now, there are miles to go before I sleep.... indeed, much to do. :)

Picture: Bushel of Apples; allposters.com

Tasha Tudor Day

I just adored Tasha. I never met her in person. I expect our politics have little in common... or our religion for that matter. So why did she have such an impact on the way I live my life?

Because she was True to the way she wanted to live and took joy in simplicity, beauty, tea time, home, family... those very aspects of life I love.

I don't think I own any of her books at the moment or the videos produced about her (although I've checked them out from the library and they are lovely). However, I have often perused the library books and watched the videos over and over (and over).

Part of me wishes I could live such a life, the small part of me which still believes there is a Hundred Acre Woods, Kermie and Miss Piggy lived happily ever after, and there will be no weeds in my garden next year.

When reality sets in, the realization comes that there is no way hubby and I could live such a life no matter how sweet it seems in the pictures. I have many physical limitations and he is allergic to... everything. :)

However, it is possible for all of us to reflect on Tasha's life and her work and write down a few aspects we particularly find interesting... to look at the pictures and ask ourselves what is lovely and what calls out to us as something we want to incorporate into our own lives (realizing, of course, she was far from perfect... but aren't we all?).

So, being a pondering type person, I thought for a long time about those things in Tasha's life which I could incorporate into mine.

A little list inspired by Tasha...

• Tea time in the afternoon
• Lanterns lit in the evening
• Candles at dusk
• Long skirts in the closet
• Aprons on a hook
• Stew simmering on the stove
• Real veggies and fruit
• Glass, stoneware, vintage tin
• Growing vegetables
• Flowers and flowers and more flowers
• Old books
• Family
• Friends

Pick one... just one creative aspect of Sasha's life... and add it to yours today.

ADDED: I completely forgot to add the link to Storybook Woods. If you join in with a post for Tasha Tudor day, leave a comment at the "Home" Tasha Tudor Day post.... here.

Parenting Ponderings Part Two

To continue my ponderings...

Recently I was reminded of the generation that came before mine, that one they call "The Greatest Generation". Not that they were perfect but they had character traits you don't find as much today... those traits of patience, perseverance, willingness to work hard to achieve a goal, doing without today to pay cash later, and understanding the importance of friendships and family.

They may have been the most amazing generation since that one which became disgruntled with The Mother Country and rebelled. (Which is, by the way, why Americans became coffee drinkers... that whole British tea thing... or at least that is the legend... but I digress.)

We should not be astonished that the generation became "The Greatest" if character is built by going through the fire of adversity. These people lived through the Great Depression, a World War (and the older among them went through two WORLD WARS), not to mention many were born when their families still went to church on Sunday morning with a horse and buggy and lived to see man walk on the moon and beyond... like my mother. Talk about culture shock.

I love to study about World War II, so does Christopher... which is why we spent two years reading about it for our history classes and never reached the Pacific Theater! I love old WWII movies, especially when they star strong men like The Duke. I enjoy reading British books about families that lived through WWII. Homemaking and cookbooks written during that era never cease to amaze me with the creativity in making something out of nothing.

Now, I'm not wanting to paint a romantic picture of a Walton's style family but we could use some Ma and Pa Walton's wisdom once in awhile these days. All I'm saying is this... I hear a lot from people who are concerned about their children because they are going through such struggles in their life.

Instead of seeing the struggles as a problem... view them as opportunities to work together as a family. Young people will learn a lot as they see their parents becoming people of faith, creativity, and perseverance.

Christopher and I were recently pondering who among his homeschooled friends were already showing signs of turning away from all they had learned at home... and those who were starting marriage or further education carrying on their parent's beliefs. He was surprised that those who were making the best transition into adulthood were from large rural families.

I'm not, knowing many of these families. They had to work together, learn to communicate (and there was a lot of sibling rivalry!), raise food and cook together, many were involved in 4-H and church activities as a family. There were no perfect people or perfect families but Life prepared them for their adult years.

I've seen a few kids "go prodigal" but return to the nest after realizing the big beautiful world is not quite as pretty or as special as HOME. To be honest, the moms and dads in these families learned as much as the children... especially about grace and forgiveness (and some of it was forgiving themselves).

As for me and my house... well, I pray a lot! :)

Picture: Building Memories; allposters.com

Don't forget Tasha Tudor Day!

Tomorrow, August 28th, is Tasha Tudor Day which is sponsored by the Storybook Woods blog.

There are many ways people participated last year. You can plan a Tasha tea with your kids, review your favorite Tasha books, show pictures of your garden like Tasha's, or just chat about how Tasha inspired your life.

For further information, go here. Included in this link are posts regarding last year's Tasha Tudor Day. Last year we left a comment on the Storybook Woods Tasha Tudor Day post on August 28th if we participated.

I love this blog all year round. :)

Parenting Ponderings - Part One

I was thinking about the recent post about raising kids when the three of us were having another heated discussion over lunch. Not heated as in arguing (much)... heated as in three opinions on a hot subject merging together to understand each other. That being stem cell research.

As one who suffers greatly from a disease stem cell research might cure, I could be the middle man (middle mom?) and think through how people may feel one way or another. Of course, all three of us are pro life and always filter discussions through those lens but I love to look at how others come to their conclusions (via their own worldview). It's a little harder for my black and white, perfectionist, engineer husband to even admit there are areas of gray in any argument. :)

As both my kids grew older, I think they knew there were no subjects we couldn't discuss. It didn't matter if I homeschooled all day or all the hours they were home (for we are all homeschoolers even if we don't teach their math and science)... I wanted our life together to be a continuous conversation... and a safe place for ideas, questions, and thinking out loud.

As I look back, there are a few things I realize turned out good that didn't look that way as we were going through them. As a young wife and mom, I had a mental blueprint of the kind of life I wanted to live in which I would bring up my many children. Life didn't follow as I thought... one child in Heaven, another born the next year... the third coming along twelve years later (God had to laugh at that one as he planned Christopher's arrival).

I can also say in fifty-plus years of living, I have never lived one perfect day. I thought I would, at one time I assumed there would come a time in my life when circumstances would be perfect and that would be best for the children. It never happened... and once I realized it wouldn't then I could relax a little and enjoy life as it was and not the way I wanted it to be.

As it turned out, the very challenges we met through the years were the seeds planted which produced two great adults now... my kids. How I thank God now that our quest for professional and financial blessings did not happen as we thought and we found instead that the journey was the blessing... not anything we would achieve (or not). :)

I should have known. God placed a man and woman in Perfection. He was the perfect "parent". They still rebelled... which gives relief and hope to any parent who has done all they could and children still flee the nest to go their own way... and have to learn for themselves before returning to open arms and forgiveness... just as He meets us when we return.

There is something about human nature that brings us together as we must meet the challenges of this world as a family. This is the schoolroom where children learn the lessons needed for life as they work with us to provide food by planting a garden or watching for bargains, care for the loved one who is ill, pray for the one whose place at the table is empty (whether a child or a parent who has gone prodigal).

It is good when kids learn to pray for Dad's safe arrival home when work demands a great deal of travel, to pick flowers for a depressed neighbor, read a book to one whose eyes have grown dim, bring water to the one with a fever, and mostly... watching how parents (grandparents, aunts and uncles, grandparents, cousins, neighbors) meet the challenges found so often in life.

Of course, those times of "success" can bring their own challenges as we have busy schedules and travel or two jobs (Mom and Dad) and all the juggling that takes. We've had seasons of life where there was "more than enough" financially as well as having lived in a large house (exactly the floor plan I'd always wanted).

Keeping children grounded can be even more difficult in affluent neighborhoods when everyone around them finds happiness and satisfaction in what the world offers. To be honest, I found keeping the family close was easier in the lean years with less distractions offered for our time and money. My daily mantra during the lean days has been... "Let's see what miracle God does today!".

Sigh... I'm still pondering and this is far from finished. Part Two tomorrow? That is, if anyone really cares for I am just thinking out loud while typing. :)

Picture: I'm Suzy Book2

Thinking of autumn

Pumpkin cookies

I have a book review to write, ponderings about kid's books going through my brain, and some thoughts on parenting typed out in draft. However, today I just feel like chatting.

Christopher started classes at the University this morning. He worked very hard at the community college to achieve good grades in science and advanced math to get accepted in the School of Science. It is one of the schools in the university which attract students worldwide (as with Engineering) and they do not like homeschoolers or junior college transfers (can we say science snobs???).

He did very well in the calculus class they made him take this summer and made good relationships with the two instructors and his adviser. His brother-in-law has two degrees from the school of Science and Christopher has already sought his advice (he could not understand the way they set up their grading system).

We always go out to breakfast on the first day of school (be it Kindergarten or as a college sophomore) but both of us decided we'd delay our tradition this year. He had to be at work early today before heading for class. We are enjoying having him living at home again (even if it means I'll have to get used to going to sleep when he's out past midnight all over again!).

Hubby is doing his seasonal security work (oh, excuse me... I mean greeter) at the bookstore. We have a long list of auto and household maintenance projects so the work he does is very needed. I appreciate his willingness to work the long hours last week and for the next few days to help our budget.

I must admit I miss working very much and it is so sweet when I get hugs from students I used to work with (many have graduated and others are Seniors this year!). They are my bookstore daughters.

There is the look and feel that autumn is just around the corner, even though the temps are on the warm side for a few days. My favorite primitive country shop has been sending e-mails with lovely warm and cozy pictures of their new autumn products. I suppose this is a new way of window shopping?

It is better than going into the store where the aromas of the spice scented candles, the deep oranges and rusts and reds and greens surround the walls and cabinets, and the sound of the dulcimer can be heard through the sound system... it all comes together to destroy my will power... although I normally come away with only a tiny candle.

Let's not even talk about the soon appearance of pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks. :)

I was asked if I have many cookbooks. I used to have lots and lots and lots. I have collected them since before I was married. I still have a nice collection, mostly of my favorites and I have received lovely cookbooks as gifts that I've held onto.

Stephanie has some of my cookbooks and Elisabeth has begun taking those she loves home with her (can we say... future chef... or perhaps a mommy who loves to cook?). I also have given a lot of great cookbooks to Goodwill, knowing how excited I get when I find a good book for $1.99.

Once cooler weather arrives, I will enjoy baking and cooking even more but the pain in both my arms and the inability to raise my right arm very far has slowed down my inner chef. :)

I love the tastes and scents of the kitchen in autumn, so many of my favorite flavors are in season at that time. Today I placed beef soup bones, a small bit of round roast, an onion, and two bay leaves in the Crock Pot and set it on low to simmer all day. I let it cool down before putting it in the refrigerator where it will set a couple days before becoming veggie beef soup. Perhaps I'll make some of the pumpkin cookies we love very soon (recipe on the recipe blog... of course).

It is to be nearly 90 degrees outside later today but inside we'll pretend it is October. :)

Monday ponderings & comment answers

Thank you for your kind and warm wishes regarding our friend. His absence will be noticed for a very, very long time. When people leave this world quickly, it can be difficult to absorb the fact they are gone.

My father died suddenly of a heart attack while I was at school (5th grade) and I think for years I still expected him to walk through the door. Whether a loved one (friend or family) passes quickly or by a slow process... saying goodbye is never easy.

On a brighter note, Christopher is now the proud owner of his own automobile, having researched what was available for weeks and finding a good deal on a used car lot owned by a man we used to attend church with.

There was no way he could start classes without his own car (let's say... there was no way Mom was getting out at midnight to pick him up from the computer lab!). He will have a small car payment but his part-time job can cover it.

Now to answer a few questions from comments.

Yes, you are always free to link to this blog or to quote me (as long as it is a correct quote, of course). ;)

A few people mentioned the Beverly Nye cookbooks on my kitchen bookshelves. I used to see Beverly each week on a show called The Bob Braun (sp?) show, which was telecast to the Midwestern market from Cincinnati. I was a teenager when I watched her! I have probably used more of her recipes since getting married than any one person... outside of the family.

Thanks to Jeanie for letting us know the Breadman bread machine worked great for her (and it was inexpensive at Target). Mine is over ten years old, it is a Regal. I think any of them should be fine, especially if you decide to use it mostly on the dough cycle.

Mine was a present one Christmas and to be honest, I hardly used it at first. Then I saw an episode of Julia Child's baking show on PBS which had a bread machine expert as a guest. Julia didn't think she'd ever use one but this particular person showed how she used it only to knead the dough and everything one could do with it.

I tried it immediately after that and I was hooked. Since I only use it for kneading, that is probably why it has lasted ten years. It works great for our small family. When I'm making a lot of dough, I use my Kitchen Aid mixer.

A link which takes you to my bread machine recipe that I've used all these years as well as one called Indian Fry Bread is... here.

Speaking of the recipe blog... I have a delicious recipe for chocolate zucchini brownies recently added. Their texture is similar to cake and I iced them with cream cheese icing (although I think I'll make regular vanilla icing next time).

Christopher took some to work with him and they loved them. I tried it the first time with whole wheat flour and it turned out fine, although I used unbleached white flour when I made it for the bookstore. It is made with oil so it stays moist for awhile, at least I assume it does as it hasn't lasted more than two days. :)

Another recipe question... the cucumbers & onions in vinegar was one of the veggie dishes my mom would make all summer. It was one of the carry over cheap recipes she used when she was a widow with seven children (before she married my dad at age 40).

It is one of those "to taste" combinations... she sliced cucumbers and onions and placed them in a shallow container. Then she poured cider vinegar to cover and sprinkled sugar to taste. Then just a little salt sprinkled on top. She would stir it once in awhile.

I have found it much easier to place the cucumbers and onions in a gallon size ZipLoc bag and pour about a fourth a cup of either cider or rice vinegar and about 3 heaping tablespoons sugar in the bag and a couple shakes of the salt shaker... closing it, and then just shaking it up once in awhile. Drain before serving.

Give it at least an hour or two to marinate and I've also left it overnight or all day. The vinegar taste gets stronger when it sits overnight so I actually prefer it to marinade only two or three hours.

Hubby doesn't mind the heavier vinegar flavor. He just finished off some that were marinating on their second day (I should have drained them earlier but I forgot... ).

I have been using garden cucumbers for these but the English cucumbers work great, too. I just wash them and then slice. If you are using large cucumbers, it is better to cut them horizontally in half and remove the seeds before slicing.

I use inexpensive yellow onions but hubby loves it when I use vidalia or Texas sweet onions (in season).

That's all I remember right now!

Sunday Afternoon Tea

As I sit here and sip peppermint tea, I have been thinking of my friend whose passing has shocked me to the core. He was retired but worked part time at Goodwill just to earn a little extra.

I had stopped by Goodwill on Friday to say hello to him, the one who always says "Hi, Sweetie!"... always a nice thing to hear when you are fifty-ish. :)

He and hubby would swap Viet Nam war stories as I checked for teacups and saucers.

He always thought it so funny when I'd be chatting with my daughter on the cell phone... asking if the grandchildren need a certain book or toy or some other inexpensive item.

He'd always laugh at me and say his wife loves to find bargains for the grandkids, too.

Money is tight so I hadn't been there even to browse these past two weeks.

And then there was Friday.... the obituary taped to the front door... my friend's picture and his life all in two small columns... cancer diagnosed the previous week... pneumonia last weekend... death on Wednesday... I never got a chance to say goodbye.

I came across this writing by Erma Bombeck again recently. I believe she wrote it after being diagnosed with cancer. It gives words to how I feel this week.

“IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER….

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute, look at it and really see it…live it and never give it back.”

After the storms

We had some horrible storms blow through a couple days ago. I was "kinda" glad the antennae was up again and the wiring all fixed so we could receive local TV in the living room. I say "kinda" because knowing a twister is coming directly over your part of the county can be good and terrifying.

I threw Sasha in the tiny bathroom and sat with my back to that door until the warning was over... having decided I'd rather face a twister as opposed to an elderly cat that was really, really unhappy. She doesn't have claws in her front paws but the back two work just fine. :)

However, the front that went through took away the heat and humidity. It is a beautiful day in the neighborhood and in the garden! I figured there would be baseball bat size zucchini and sure enough, there were a couple in my sight even before reaching the garden.

I knew already that those could be shredded and used for bread, muffins, etc. but I also found (in the Victory Garden Cookbook's section about squash) that they are great for the compost pile... which is where these ended up.

I should have been replying to e-mails this morning (you'd never know how much I love getting your e-mails by my slow response) but my brain was working rather slooooow. Instead I got a little caught up reading favorite blogs.

I got such a laugh from Mattie's description of her goats... ummm... reproducing? My mother would call such a goat a little hussy, hehehe. You can read more... here.

I know this summer I've been commenting very little on other blogs and reading mainly on my rss feed. This means I don't read all the comments for a particular post. Knowing that... I highly recommend reading the wonderful comments on yesterday's post here on CTB&Me.

There are the most special people in the world who comment here. Believe me, the comments are a whole lot more interesting than the original post! The discussion is about our children going out into the real world... here.

Picture: Rise and Shine; allposters.com

College, homeschooling, worldview, and stuff

Sigh, I can't even come up with a good post title. I am sitting here with a huge yellow mug of decaf coffee and a vanilla candle recently lit to infuse the room with a calming scent. We found out this morning a very good acquaintance had suddenly passed away. We will miss him.

Christopher's check from the University arrived yesterday to purchase his books and other necessities. We stopped by the bookstore to pick up his books, which had been put on hold. He also needed to drive to Best Buy for new ear phones (his ADHD challenges are audio and he must wear earphones that block noise to study).

I perused the books at Barnes & Noble and realized I hadn't been there in ages... much coveting was involved... and sniffing the aroma of Starbucks coffee. :)

Christopher had to return to the Financial Aid department at the University over twenty times. There were that many problems, including being kicked completely out of the computer twice. His diligence paid off as his complete Sophomore year is paid for with a combination of grants and scholarships from his good grades at the community college.

He has merged into college, taking his senior year of high school (homeschooling) and his freshmen year of college at the community college and then transferring to the University. His hard work in math and science has paid off with acceptance into the School of Science (which is difficult to get into) and minoring in engineering. It is quite amazing since this is the kid who took over two years to finish Saxon 1/2 and despised math. All of a sudden... he got it.

I have been asked by a few people around town why I would encourage him to attend the University when so many "Christian" kids come out of four years with no faith intact. Well, for one thing... if our kids are going to be salt and light in fields such as science, engineering, medicine, law, education, business, and math... they require a college education.

Now, I grew up near this world renown university, worked there, attended college there, have one child graduated from there, and I've known dozens and dozens of young people who have attended this and other major universities. All I have to say is... they can be a pit... on the level of Sodom and Gomorrah. I kid you not. It can be very, very bad. Liberal professors are the least of my concerns.

I have already found the contact people for the Navigators and Inter Varsity (Christopher has met the contacts for Campus Crusade for Christ) and forwarded them to him via e-mail.... and he lives at home!

At the same time, my husband and I decided to prepare him for the University and what he would encounter by teaching him... worldview. We used Cornerstone Curriculum's Starting Points Curriculum, which was fantastic. It can be one semester or one year (we used it as a one year curriculum).

It says it is for ages 12 to adult. We used it around the Sophomore-Junior years. We enjoyed teaching this and Christopher loved the books he had to read. I mean... how bad can it be when Mere Christianity is one of the required books? :)

They also have a three year worldview high school course which you basically only have to add math and science separately. This course is based a great deal on the works of Francis Schaeffer and is a quite demanding classical education.

We used their math curriculum the first half of elementary school classes... one of my few regrets is not staying with it through sixth grade.

Their website is... here. Even if you don't homeschool, the Starting Points material would be excellent to study with your teenagers as a family project.

My greatest desire for my children and grandchildren is to have a relationship with the very real Christ of the Bible. My second greatest desire... for them to walk in the path for which God made them.

Picture: Waterbaby;allposters.com

The beauty of forced frugality

I doubt most of us would use the word beauty and forced frugality together... at least until the view you are achieving is from the rear view mirror. Years and years later one looks around at the skills developed and the life being lived, only to realize they would not have come about except for the day to day living when there is more creativity than money. :)

I thought about that this week as I was in the kitchen and working on small projects. Both the guys were away from home. I had plenty of time to think and ponder and work on decluttering projects (for there are always places in a small house which need to be decluttered). All those little items on my "to do" list are now "to done". It is amazing what two days alone (in the daytime) can do...

Yesterday afternoon I baked a loaf of honey wheat bread as promised for my husband, made the best salmon patties, set sliced cucumbers and onions in vinegar and sugar, and sliced some tomatoes... all coming together for a cheap but delicious dinner... leftover salmon patties carefully covered and set aside for a late dinner when the guys arrived home.

The bread recipe was learned long, long ago for the benefit of health and our pocketbook (kept taped inside my kitchen cabinet), the salmon recipe only recently discovered as a way to add salmon to our menu on the cheap (I used to hate salmon patties until I found this recipe, which is now on my recipe blog).

Sitting on my kitchen counter this week has been a small bowl of cider vinegar with a squirt of dishwashing liquid... battling gnats which somehow came in with veggies and reproduced. At one time I would have sprayed poison but I couldn't afford to buy any so I found a cheap solution, and it worked! So many of our "going green and good for the planet" solutions have come about by the need to be frugal.

There is a simplicity that comes when one must stay home for long stretches of time to save gas or the money isn't there to shop, go out to eat, sign the children up for various classes, or flitter from one friend to another (flitter?). Staying home is hard for some who have been used to leaving each day. It is only when one becomes good at staying home that it is possible to look at housekeeping other than maintenance... moving into the realm of creative homemaking... for such a lifestyle requires time.

I love going out to the garden to pick green beans for dinner or zucchini for a quick bread or cake (using the same batter in a 9 x 13 dish). As mentioned in another post... skills continuing to be learned as we're stretching money as a family over the years. New recipes are being researched as we use more beans, lentils, etc. in various recipes.

I was listening to a TV show recently where the author being interviewed had written about learning to live with less money. She thought some will come out of the present economic crisis with their life changed for the good, having gained many useful skills and learning how much joy can be found in a simpler and more frugal lifestyle... as she had after leaving a high paying corporate position.

Going through tough economic times can be very difficult. I have been there when a decision was made to put the house up for sale before we lost it. I have been to the grocery store when a decision was made to purchase either milk or bread (which is why knowing how to make bread became a priority... we don't own a cow). :)

Living on less can make convenience hard to come by but it also forces us (as in forced frugality) to gain knowledge and experience which come only by doing things for ourselves... and that can be a heritage passed to the next generation just as important as what is found in a bank account.

Personally, I believe such lessons learned are worth all the gold in California as one decides to depend less on what money can buy... manage expectations... develop skills for living... and stop complaining about circumstances but becoming less consumers and more producers... even it is just a tomato plant on the deck and bread in the oven.

As the Word says... do not despise small beginnings... and don't stomp your foot and complain that you are being forced to learn to live on less. In the long run, you will be thankful... someday even if it is not now. :)

Picture: Grandma's Garden, Robert Duncan; allposters.com

A few comments on comments

Here are a few "comments" about recent comments and e-mails (I still have not been able to respond to e-mails but I should be able to soon).

I am planning another Warm and Cozy book recommendation in a couple of weeks. Be thinking again of any books and movies you can think of that have scenes of cozy times together... food, family time, friendships, needlework, children, gardening, reading, cozy room scenes... etc. Essentially good books of any genre that make us feel warm and cozy when we read them. :)

I am going to ask for your favorite biographies and autobiographies later in the season. The link to the original list of warm and cozy books is on the sidebar... the picture of the warm and cozy room.

Stephanie posted the recipe she is using for Sticky Toffee Pudding... here. She also has a new post about their England trip since this one but this contains that recipe that will be perfect for tea time. :)

Yes, I "see" all comments even if they are given on a very old post. This blog has moderated comments so I have to read them before they are published. I still receive all comments on the recipe blog via e-mail.

Thank you so much for all the feedback on the Julie and Julia movie. I am such a big fan of Julia Child and I'm looking forward to seeing the movie when it comes out on DVD (right now seeing a film at the theater is not a budget option) and I'll disregard the small amount of "language".

I had heard that Julia did not like the book Julie and Julia at all and would never give it a recommendation. I hadn't heard she was upset about the bad language but it doesn't surprise me. I watched the PBS special over the weekend that showed two of the French Chef original shows (two of my favorites... her omelet show and her chicken show).

Those French Chef shows are wonderful for family viewing, they are so amusing at times that older kids will enjoy them while learning basic cooking technique. I used to watch them with Stephanie when she was a child. Both volume 1 and volume 2 are available through Amazon.

Yes... when I typed the directions for roasting zucchini and other summer squash, I forgot my oven bakes on the hotter side. I expect roasting it for 20 to 25 minutes is a good thing! Roasting is my favorite way to fix a lot of veggies.

Regarding coupons... I find a lot of good coupons in the Sunday newspaper. However, the best coupons are found online. I'll write more about that later but one suggestion is to go to the website of your favorite product manufacturers and see if they offer e-mail updates. Many of my $1.00 coupons come directly from the product pages.

And finally for today... below is a recipe for squash that Matty left on the comments. It looks yummy. Matty sent me the honey and soap from her "girls". :)

A squash casserole recipe to die for!

Take 4-5 med. size squash, slice lengthwise and remove seeds.

Parboil squash, sans seeds, until fork tender.

While the squash is boiling, mix:
1 c. chopped tomatoes
1/2 c. chopped onions

Stir fry in olive oil until onions are clear.

Take this mixture and combine with:

1/2 c. bread crumbs (I use Italian flavored)

1 c. grated cheddar cheese

Drain the squash; fill with mixture, sprinkle with basil, and bake for 15 minutes at 350.

Eat and be surprised that THIS IS SQUASH!

A student's mother gave me this recipe and we can't get enough of it!

Enjoy!

Matty

Three year birthday!

1,335... that's what post number this is... and if you noticed the little widget in the upper right hand corner of the blog... tomorrow (TODAY) is the third birthday of Coffee Tea Books & Me.

Wow, three years since Stephanie convinced me I should start a blog and I finally gave in. I was still homeschooling full time three years ago and teaching a world view class at the homeschool co-op. I really did have two kitties three years ago (I could never bring myself to change the "keeper of the kitties" in my profile after Storm's passing).

Christopher didn't have his driver's license at that time so I was driving him into town three or four nights a week for fencing lessons and such. Which is also why I got a lot more reading done (reading and waiting and reading and waiting, etc.). Not so very many years ago but also an eternity.

Blogger has come a long way from those days. It was not uncommon to type out a long post only to have it eaten up by Blogger when one pushed the Publish button... and we won't even revisit what it was like to publish pictures. It is now sooooo user friendly. :)

One of the reasons I started blogging was so Uncle Gibby could comment on what's going on in our world and sister Jean could see pictures. Jean is allergic to computers, I think she read the blog once or twice. Uncle Gibby read but didn't comment... he passed away last autumn... a very real loss to no longer see that familiar e-mail address in the Inbox.

What started as a way to chat about books and share pictures with my family has blossomed into sweet friendships all over the world. I have been humbled and awed by your compassion, friendship, and even generosity. Some share the same faith while others are as passionate about seeking simplicity, books, gardening, cooking, "coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon" as I am.

Happy birthday CTB&Me!!!!

Sunday Afternoon Tea

While working in the garden this past week, I realized why the Gospels are full of metaphors regarding weeds, tares, vines, fruit, sewing, reaping.. and generally getting your hands in the dirt. For this was the very stuff of day to day living for people at one time.

I had given the garden a nice long shower as it is no more acclimated to the heat than I am. When making my way through squash leaves to look for green beans, I realized this plant reminded me of those 1950s movies where radiation had hit plants and they grew to the size of a Buick. I knew what I had to do... I had to pull that plant out or everything around it was in jeopardy. Sigh...

As I walked across the lawn, pulling that bunch of vines behind me to the compost pile in the far corner of our property, I wondered if I had done the right thing. There were teeny tiny yellow squash on this plant. It was still producing. It looked great. Now it is compost fodder.

However, when I returned to the garden... I kid you not... it looked like the green beans, basil, lemon balm, and lemon thyme, and the cute purple striped eggplant... were raising their leaves toward heaven and drinking in the sunshine for the first time in a couple of weeks. Yes, I had done the right thing.

Then, being a pondering type person, I realized that is what God has done to me in the past. He removed perfectly good and fruitful "things" in my life to make room for what He had for me... replacing the good for the best. I felt just the same as when that vine was pulled out of the soil, gasp... cough... shudder.. I'm dying here, Lord! I'm bearing fruit! I need this "fill in the blanks" in my life.

It can be a job, or a house, or a person, or any number of things... all plucked away while I stomp my feet and mumble and complain and grumble and cry... all about what has been taken away. Sometimes it took years, others only weeks, to realize the "taking away" is the very thing that made room for growth of faith, or trust, or hope. There were also the times when He replaced that which had been torn away with something better.

There was the big stuff... job losses, houses, health. Other seasons have required giving up relatively small items (in relation to the big stuff) such as hundreds and hundreds of books as we downsized over the years. We still have seven bookshelves... six large and one tiny shelf which holds favorite fiction hubby has read through the years. We continue to find places for stacks of books here and there. But every once in awhile I think of a book long gone and miss it.

A couple times a year I go through the house and declutter... sending to charity boxes containing kitchen stuff, tea cups and saucers, silk flowers, knicky knacks, artwork, pillows, plates, clothing... and even books... generally those items I could part with (which were good) so our home will be comfortable and not cluttered (the best).

I was so inspired by the removal of the squash plant that I (ouch) also pulled out a pretty flower from the other garden bed, which had grown so large it was blocking the sun from the cherry tomato and green beans plants. Getting rid of the good for the best...

I'll start paying more attending to those parables in the Gospels. :)

Pantry talk: Encouragement for the homemaking library

This post was sparked by a conversation I had recently with my son. He was telling me how his friends still talk about his graduation party last year, not only how much fun they had but that it had the "best food" of many graduation parties (most professionally catered).

Well, I had put that party together at the very last minute and mostly from the pantry. What his statement made me realize was that having stuff in the pantry alone is only part of the story... it was thirty plus years of learning and experience that made it possible to "cater my own party" (and Stephanie's wedding open house many years ago that we worked on together).

It all started long ago... as a young homemaker, I read an article that changed my life. No, really... it was that profound. I don't even remember which of the many authors I admire wrote it. What was said was this... we must view our role as homemakers in the same way we would any profession and budget time and money for "continuing education".

The author actually encouraged the watching of cooking and decorating shows (within reason, of course), as well as to build a homemaking library. She helped me realize budgeting for cake decorating... flower arranging... cooking... quilting... interior decorating... and perhaps even a few carpentry... classes was a good thing for they help me be creative and go far beyond day to day household maintenance as a homemaker.

How wonderful it was to be given permission to learn and to study... not only permission but encouragement to "sit at the feet" (so to speak) of those who have gone before me to learn how to be a creative cook... and baker... and homemaker... and home educator... and umm... gardener (we're still learning those skills). We become excellent at what we do over and over and to the extent we spend time learning the necessary skills.

Of course, classes and books read will change throughout the years. All my favorite homeschool books are now on shelves in New England. Any books I owned about raising small children are long gone. Grandmothering is different than mothering, at least when you only see your grandchildren once a year... I just hug and smootch and spoil. :)

I decided a picture truly is worth a thousand words so I went around the house snapping little sections of FIVE bookshelves. I thought they would give a good representation of my "spiritual", household, and cooking collections. As usual... they can be enlarged by clicking on them if you are really nosey... I mean curious.

I had to use the flash a few times... sorry for the reflection.









Besides books, I think cooking magazines are a real bargain in the long run and good for new cooks since they give pictures. There are so many magazines on the shelves, it is possible to find great recipes for the way each of us cooks. I like Paula... can we say butter???

I have a stack of favorites on the bottom shelf where I keep cookbooks. Below is just a representation:


I have also found gardening and decorating magazines to be very helpful. I have purchased a favorites over the years but I've found a lot on the free magazine rack at the library.

I particularly enjoy articles about how people cook, decorate, and garden in their own homes.

Added: Many of these books were purchased at library sales through the years. I've found great cookbooks at garage sales, too.

To many options, too little time

I only have time for the quickest of hellos today. There are more things to do than there is time to do them.. I absolutely must:

Wash dishes
Put away dishes in the drainer
Water the garden
Water the flowers on the deck
Do two loads of laundry
Wash and prep veggies for dinner
Start the Holiday Spaghetti casserole for dinner
Look again for Matthew's beloved Doggie
Continue writing the next pantry post

Given that list, there are also a lot of things I want to do:

Finish the book I must review
Start The Ragamuffin Gospel
Read another chapter in Keep a Quiet Heart
Respond to a few e-mails
Take the pictures for the next pantry post
Bake blueberry muffins
Make a basil puree for a recipe
Peruse a couple favorite cookbooks for recipes
Read through the latest Victoria magazine
and...
Just sit and think

Some days I have too many options. :)

Picture: I wish I knew the name or the artist

Thursday morning sitting by Sasha

I had set the alarm early this morning to have a quiet time before Christopher brought the car home and I would drive him to work. The morning light was shining through the window and landing on the dish drainer... making even plastic look pretty.

Yes, with all the beautiful dishes I have around, I use plastic when feeding the menfolk except for Sunday dinner and special events. It looks like we had a houseful of guests but I was grilling hamburgers last night and I use the plastic plates for prep work, too.

Sasha is nudging me, trying to stop the typing long enough for a few behind the ear itchies. She will receive just a little attention before I must start a load of laundry in the washer and pull a few weeds before the heat and humidity set in.

I have already sipped morning coffee while reading the first chapter of James. I have driven Christopher to work and stopped to put $10.00 worth of gas in the car on the way home. I set on the front porch rocking and talking to my daughter on the cell phone. It is time to start some serious household chores. :)

Oh... regarding the question about how I cook the yellow squash... I slice it very thick and at an angle and roast it for about fifteen minutes with a little olive oil and course sea salt sprinkled on top. Sometimes I cut them in half horizontally (especially if they are picked while fairly small), and "paint" them with olive or canola oil with the pastry brush, and grill them since that is now an option. I know there are some great veggie casseroles they can be used in, too. According to the Victory Garden Cookbook, they can be used in the same recipes you use zucchini.

I have now added the directions for freezing zuchinni and corn to my recipe blog... here.

Sitting on the Lazy Boy resting...

What happens when you leave the zucchini alone...

I am working on another pantry post but all the outside work is affecting my brain. While I don't have the allergies the rest of the family deals with, there is definitely something in the air today. I had to rush allergy medicine to Christopher or he wouldn't have been able to stay at work. When I walked in, his co-worker cried out, "Christopher, your drug dealer is here!". As miserable as he was, it even gave him a laugh.

I've been preparing corn for the freezer this morning. I know I've been reading the Pioneer Woman blog a lot as I took pictures each step of the way. It reminds me of the day my neighbor's huge tree was blown down in a storm and I ran out with my camera to blog about it. :)

Thankfully, I didn't cut myself with the knife even though I had sharpened it before slicing through corn cobs. I, too, sliced myself quite badly on the mandolin when I was shredding zucchini. I was being very careful with my fingertips and caught my knuckle!! Ouch... it is two weeks later and still hurts when I do dishes.

I know there have been questions in comments but I can't remember any except Jody's from the last post. I did go to college but I didn't graduate. Instead I had a daughter. Years later Stephanie and I had wanted to go to L'Abri around the time she was thirteen (if we could afford it). Instead I had a son. Such is life... :)

My last corporate job was one in which they preferred a Master's degree as it dealt with counseling work groups and managers, as well working in long range planning with the vice presidents and the president of the company just as it was going "international".

In that company I started as an administrative assistant to the head of Human Resources, eventually working myself up to the point I was the acting head of the Organization Development Department for a couple months while my boss worked on a special project.

Someone asked my last boss there at the corporation how he came to promote me when they preferred a graduate degree and he said I was the most well read person he knew. Sometimes being a bibliophile is a good thing. :)

I absolutely loved the work I did during those years and God's grace was on our life as it worked out just fine when Stephanie was a preschooler and in kindergarten. Being an only child at the time, she enjoyed her day care center. I found it interesting that we started having all kinds of childcare problems at the same time I felt I was to leave behind the corporate world.

It was so hard to "go home" full time but I never regretted the decision. Life goes by quickly and family is so important. I realized that even more when I talked to some people from my former corporation a few years later only to hear none of the programs I put so much effort in were continuing at that time. Poof! All my work gone (except, of course, any good affect I had by helping people solve problems).

Oh, and I am still a bibliophile.

Anniversary in the midst of busy-ness

It has become quite busy here as we have so much to do outside and we're in the process of moving Christopher back home. He's been staying at our friend's house while they bicycled through Europe (after being on sabbatical in Finland for the spring semester). They are in their 60s! He has been invited to stay at their house but it will be much cheaper for him to stay at home this semester.

I apologize to those who have written e-mails recently. I haven't had time to read most of them much less respond. Hopefully I will have a free evening soon to write as I do try to respond to all of them. If you have ever written and not heard from me, the e-mail mistakenly went into the Spam file... which I know has happened when I've seen an e-mail there from someone I actually knew!

Yesterday was our 35th wedding anniversary. That is a long time to be married to someone. I wanted a June wedding but my husband was 27 and didn't want it published in the newspaper he was marrying a 19 year old. Thus, our August wedding was days after my birthday. :)

The years have not been easy but I'm thankful we made it this far. I'm reminded of the quote I heard once (can't remember from whom or what book) that "marriage is to make us holy rather than happy". Of course, marriage brings happiness but bringing together two families can be quite interesting.

We have dealt with his career as an engineer and engineering manager, which required a great deal of moving from one place to another as well as his constant travel. Of course, his bi-polar challenges were not easy, either. However, what was most challenging to both of us was just the fact we are two totally different people, which I've seen so often in marriages.

While we have faced many challenges, we have been blessed with just the best children, son-in-law, and grandchildren one could ever hope for... as well as our furry friends (one is curled next to me as I'm writing so I must include Sasha and her sister... we still mourn our Storm Girl).

We don't notice the age difference very much in most things but it is very evident in our taste for music. I especially notice him cringe when we are in the car together and I have the radio set to K-Love. I have the station streaming on my computer right now. :)

We had not planned on going out for lunch or dinner at all since money is so tight these days but a very, very sweet blog friend was at Panera recently and thought of me... sending along a Panera gift card that arrived Saturday (I have not had a chance to e-mail that it arrived safely, I'm sorry!!!).

The generosity of blog friends has never ceased to amaze me. Kindness to each other is that spark which kindles much needed courage to forge ahead through less than perfect days. We truly do "read to know we are not alone". :)

I was walking back to the house from the rural mailbox when the "still small Voice" reminded me this is perfect for our anniversary. I must admit to a twinge of selfishness as I thought of the times I could get away for good coffee and a scone instead but thankfully that didn't last more than a few seconds.

We had a very, very nice anniversary celebration at Panera Sunday afternoon... thank you so very much to my friend who shared her Panera love with me. We had such a nice time with good food and no dishes!! :)

Thank you for the comments about the Julie & Julia movie. I'll watch for it when it comes to the Redbox machines and be on guard for the language. Even though it is prevalent through the book, it is too bad they had to put it in the movie (although not surprising).

Picture: There is No Place Like Home; allposters.com

Julie & Julia... a warning!

I had something else to write about today but after walking through Border's Sunday afternoon and seeing the book Julie & Julia everywhere (because of the movie), I had to write this warning today. I've never given a book warning before! I don't remember reading another book that was such a letdown.

It is the only book I have ever given a "1" to as an Amazon reviewer and I made certain to give it a review when the new mass market version came out. I did find it amusing to read through other reviewers comments and find a few who said the only reason someone would give it a bad review is because they were right winged Republicans. Sheesh...

Now, I understand this is based on a really charming and cute idea, that is why I brought the book home from the library in the first place when it came out. I was shocked! Do not let your young ladies near this book. It is full of vile language and while part of the book is about cooking Julia's recipes, much of it is about this woman and her perspective on life... defiling to say the least.

I have found it interesting to have it recommended on a couple blogs I usually enjoy. I don't know if it is a generational thing but I find vulgar talk with the effe word thrown in here and there not to be enjoyable (and what it has to do with cooking one's way through The French Chef is beyond me).

That is what this author is like. I stopped reading it after the third or fourth chapter because I felt I had to wash my hands as well as my brain. Ugh... If you find you must check out the book, do that... check it out of the library and don't spend good money for it. Was I ever glad I had only checked it out and could give it back. Just make certain once again your young ladies don't check it out.

I enjoyed Julia's biography, My Life In France. It is always interesting to me how seemingly small decisions in our life can change its' entire direction. It is also the story of a woman who found love just a little later in life and the romance she and her husband had throughout their many years together. Child was not conservative in her beliefs but she was always regal, kind, and a great lady.

If you want to read an excellent autobiography by another of my favorite chefs, I highly recommend The Apprentice: My Life in the Kitchen by Jacques Pepin. He is just as much a gentleman as Julia was a lady. His story is also fascinating from his childhood in WWII France through being part of the early beginnings of the renaissance of fine cooking here in the United States.

Sunday Afternoon Tea

Silver in morning's soft glow.

My ponderings this week have been about taking joy in the simple things of life... such as honey... North Carolina Barberry honey to be exact... which a sweet friend sent me this past week after telling me how good it is in tea.

I've decided Barberry honey is the stuff angel food is made of... yum. Honey has always fascinated me... all this birds and bees stuff... and that something so natural and delicious is made by the bees. I believe there is some Pooh in me (although it is Jewels who says she is the Bear of Little Brain. :)

On a recent evening, a gentle rain fell outside so I lit a McIntosh apple scented candle and sipped the last of my Candy Cane Lane tea from last Christmas. I even pulled out the autumn Tea Time magazine which recently came in the mail (which has many delicious recipes) to get me thinking of cooler weather. I'm always ready for autumn by August, even after a cooler summer. :)

I wrote a post a few years ago about how nice a solitary tea time can be once in awhile, a type of mini vacation in my own living room. I remember when Christopher was a preschooler and I thought I'd never again in my entire life be able to read through a magazine... or finish a book... or slowly sip tea... much less have anything with a flame in it on a coffee table. Times goes by very quickly, doesn't it?

It has become quite hot and humid, more like our typical August weather. So, I have been out early and late to do the gardening and lawn work. While pulling the ever existent weeds, I startled a rather large frog. I must admit to stopping my work to admire his markings as one has to look carefully to distinguish him from his (her?) surroundings. Our Designer is such an amazing Artist.

Taking the time to look a little closer at nature is something I learned to do in all those nature walks we took during the homeschooling years... lessons taught by that hyperactive little boy... the same one who does everything in slow motion as a young adult (or so it seems).

I want to live the life I desire as much as possible, working within the limitations which hinder doing everything I'd like to do. To surround myself with beauty and candlelight on rainy days... the aroma of homemade bread (began in the bread machine then shaped by hand and baked in the oven)... great coffee... not to mention tea... a little chocolate now and then... old books and new British DVDs... music of all kinds... Miss Marple on TV... and family, of course.

I suppose when one thinks of a life of simplicity, their thoughts tend more toward those who live on a homestead and are completely self sufficient. Not necessarily one who enjoys solitary tea times and polishing silver. Yet, it is those very things that make for a pleasant evening at this stage of life.

I also love those early morning hours when the sun begins to filter through the lace curtains during my quiet time... with a cup of coffee, my Bible, and my favorite devotional... perhaps a great book that speaks to my soul at the moment. Simple things which only require my setting up the coffeepot the night before and rising from sleep before anyone else in the house.

I cannot do everything I would like but I can do something each day... to make my world that which I desire. My choices in books read, media watched, music on the itty bitty ipod, magazines perused, artwork on the wall, clothing purchases, meals and snacks made, etc... all come together to form each day of a lifetime. If I am more careful of my choices in these areas, I am far more able to handle that part of life which is out of my control. :)

A little at a time chores

My plant that was sick is blooming again!

Yawn... I've been up since 5:30 this morning when my cell phone started alerting me it was low on batteries. I was so sleepy but it kept complaining until I finally was awake for good and plugged it in, which is what it wanted all along. One must wonder at times just how smart our technology has become. Sheesh...

I know the feeling about so many great blogs out there and not enough time to read . I have all my favorites on two rss feeds, most of those I read daily on one and those I may read only from time to time on another. (Those are mostly decorating and homeschooling blogs I want to read but leave for those evenings I have more time to enjoy.) There are a few I click on the title and go to the original post... those I prefer to read at the actual blog site.

Right now there is so much work to be done that it could be overwhelming. I've been getting a lot accomplished just fifteen minutes here and there. It is remarkable to me how much I can get done by committing only fifteen minutes or so... consistently.

All of my silver plate serving pieces have been on the dining table, either in some stage of tarnish or proudly displayed in their shining glory. I have a nice collection, all purchased at garage sales, Goodwill, or thrift stores... even after getting rid of those which I either didn't plan to use again or they demanded too much attention by tarnishing quickly and being difficult to clean.

The most I ever paid was $25.00 and that was for the entire tea set with huge silver platter (which I do not keep on the buffet with the set.... just too big). The cheapest were the Paul Revere candle sticks, purchased for $1.00 at a garage sale because the woman didn't like polishing silver.

Everything needs a little polishing with MAAS once in awhile, except the silver plate flatware I bought at a garage sale... it gets washed in hot, soapy water alone after being used and then dried by hand and put back in its' box which keeps it from tarnishing. Fortunately, I don't mind polishing silver at all. It's enjoyable seeing the tarnish leave and the sparkle come back. :)

I've also been weeding the back yard along the fence line a little at a time before the very hot and humid weather is to set in for awhile (we've been spoiled this summer with nice weather!). I have to use my left arm but by working just a little at a time but consistently each day... it will eventually look good.

The wet spring caused not only more weeds than usual and it was too wet to get out and pull them when they were smaller. Our property was once a very dense forest... it all tries to come back each spring, especially among all the greenery and bushes next to the long fence line.

Since I was already awake this morning, I thoroughly cleaned the kitchen and did the dishes which had assembled after dinner last night. (Sometimes I think dishes reproduce by themselves while I sleep.)

I sliced cucumbers and placed them in a vinegar, sugar, salt solution for my husband's lunch (at his request) and I simmered black beans to be used in a recipe this evening. I read an article recently in one of the America's Test Kitchen magazines about research they did in cooking beans... they found it only required one half an hour of extra cooking time for most beans if they hadn't been soaked overnight... and that they do not get tough when cooked in salted water but actually taste better.

Since then I've simmered beans their way and found it so much easier, especially when I decide at the last minute I want to cook beans but didn't soak them. (They also said cooking them an extra half an hour gave a better texture than bringing them to a boil and letting them set an hour before cooking again.) I always learn something from these people!

Anyhoo... that is how I came to sit on the comfy old sofa in the family room and type away while watching a show about earthquakes on the National Geographic Channel. I don't know if I ever mentioned I insisted my husband buy earthquake insurance after we had teeny tiny tremors a couple years ago (try to say that rapidly in a row). For my California friends... I think it only added about $20.00 a year to our policy... but if the New Madrid fault ever shakes again... we're covered! :)

Will meet with you for tea tomorrow... God willing and the creek don't rise... or the earth shake.

Blog friend updates and other stuff

I was asked about a couple blog friends so I thought I'd incorporate that info with a few other recommendations...

For those who asked, I had a sweet e-mail from my friend Cheryl (aka: Copperswife) who let me know she is alive and well... just too busy to keep up with her blog right now... homeschool moms with big gardens are very busy these days. I'm sure a lot of her friends have missed her. How nice it was to have a new post from her today. :)

I actually sent a snail mail letter to my dear Jewels a few weeks ago, just to let her know I was thinking of her. You know I am quite fond of someone when I send a letter with a stamp on it... normally just reserved for my husband's elderly aunt and the occasional Grammie mail sent to New England.

How wonderful it was to "see" her on Google Mail this morning, telling us about her newest family member. For those of you who are new to this blog and want a treat... read Jewel's archives. All of them. Brew a lovely pot of tea... put the children down for their nap... and enjoy.

I thought I'd chat also about a few blogs you may not be familiar with.

Brenda Hyde's original website was one of my first sites I bookmarked a very long time ago... especially the Tea Time section. Her blog called Old Fashioned Tips is wonderful. I don't know how she keeps up the creativity year after year.

I always enjoy visiting the lovely Ravenhill Cottage blog... recently she led readers to the new blog by Victoria's Nancy Lindemeyer. I have the Ravenhill Cottage blog up today to copy a recipe (my printer is broken!).

Speaking of recipes, Bernideen's Tea Time blog has some great recipes recently. Well... always for that matter but these are zucchini recipes which I need right now. I'm still enjoying the items I received by winning one of her give aways... there is still time to sign up for her next give away (I didn't since I recently won it...) I would love to visit her lovely place.

You all know how much I love Sally Clarkson's writing, she says her daughter's writing is even better. Sarah is trying to post each day this month on her blog Itinerant Idealist. Sarah's writing truly is lovely. She reminds me so much of Stephanie so I wasn't surprised that her recommendations for their England trip helped to make it extra special. (Link has been corrected.)

Another blog to bookmark is Provoking Thoughts, which I have added to the list on my sidebar. I usually don't add a blog solely for the purpose of what it sells but their story is inspiring... and their "faith based gift items" will indeed inspire those who need to be uplifted.

I'm once again posting the link to my daughter's blog to.... ummm... encourage her to keep posting about her England trip. Okay, so she has four young kids and homeschools and a hubby and a house and a garden and church responsibilities... I'm sure she can find time to write a mini thesis on her findings at Ambleside. Hehehe...

Last, but certainly not least... I have added the picture link to Storybook Woods Tasha Tudor Day again this year to my sidebar. It is near the top... click on the picture and it will give you lots of information should you want to participate. I'll be posting about it again as a reminder to both me and others who want to participate.

Sigh... now I remember why I don't do to many of these blog recommendation posts. I have about a gazillion tabs up on Firefox. Enjoy!

Picture: Summer Front Porch; allposters.com