Boots, baking, and bloggy business

I thought you might like to see where the two sets of child's boots ended up... on the porch bench.  I think it will keep them safe from the neighbor's dog and by sitting in the vintage dish, they are easy to set aside should the bench be needed.

To give you an idea of size, the Suzy Zoo boots are for a child, the candy apple red boots are toddler size... both the results of scanning the kid's shoe aisle whenever I'm in Goodwill or thrift shops.  :)

The idea of decorating with boots came about quite a few years ago when I saw a picture of larger American flags placed in adult size garden boots.  It was for a 4th of July celebration.  Then (I think it was in one of my pretty cookbooks), I came across a picture of a child's cowboy boots stuffed with a handful of small American flags in each boot.  I had a cute pair of cowboy boots with flags last year.  Alas, they are no more... the dog again (who is now under house arrest at her owner's place).  :)

Like many parts of the country, we have had rather strong winds for a couple of days.  I have opened a few windows to let the wind air out the house.  I LOVE the feel of a warm breeze coming in through windows.  It reminds me of my childhood in the country when the wind blew fresh air through the screened windows and door.

The garden and deck flowers have been watered this morning, a first "batch" of weeds have been pulled from the fence line (we've never had as many as this year), the dishes from the morning's breakfast and baking are now drying in the red dish drainer, and an oatmeal cake is cooling on the old cutting board. 

My husband has been hinting for a baked goodie for days now and he is working hard (the usual end of semester week at the bookstore) to make extra money for a needed brake job on the car.  So... I figured I can have one of his favorite cakes ready when he returns home this evening.  Oatmeal cakes are popular in many Amish and Pennsylvania dutch cookbooks, you can find it... here.

I completely forget that time goes by without me explaining my physical condition and then new readers come along and are clueless.  I developed Juvenile Diabetes (Type 1) as an adult and have been diagnosed as a brittle diabetic.  Juvenile Diabetics eventually develop Hashimoto's Disease (which I did about eight years ago) which is also an autoimmune disease that attacks the thyroid much like diabetes attacks the pancreas.  Between them one gets quite tired and becomes an expert at the "little bit at a time" way of living.

Which brings me to the bloggy business.  I have a few people who have written to ask when I'm going to publish the Book Recommendations #2.  I should have had it finished long ago and then made another promise to finish it this spring.  However, it has become apparent it will have to wait until I have a lull in lawn and garden work (small house... large property) in addition to normal household duties. 

I've felt the pressure to get it done but I must "cry uncle" and say it won't for awhile.  I always must be careful that blogging doesn't come before my home and family, especially with limited energy .  When I begin to feel it a burden, it is time for me to either step back for awhile or let something go (in this case, the Book Recommendations List but temporarily).  That is also the reason I no longer accept books by any publisher to review, they became something else on my "to do" list and reading became a burden rather than a pleasure.

So... one day without warning the Recommendations List will pop up and you will know I had a couple of free days to work on them.  In the meantime, I have a cup of Earl Grey Green to sip while reading a little... and resting... before heading back outside to sweep the deck and scrub the two small deck tables.  All I can do is a little at a time... here and there... and eventually it all gets done.  :)

Keeping on keeping on...

 The kitchen window

where I do my best thinking

I planted the "good enough" herb garden today... not perfect... but good

Hubby finished the first of the three small garden beds last night just as the sun was setting.  He filled it with soil from a nearby dry creek bed (having received permission from the owner last year to "take all you need").  I was able to plant it today with apple mint, lemon verbena, lemon balm, thyme, and basil.  I know the apple mint will expand... that's okay.  I hope it will but not until next year.  :)

If you get a chance to watch the Franklin Springs Homestead Blessings: The Art of Herbs, you will know what inspired me to start growing apple mint.  I'm only hoping mine will be that prolific and have plenty (eventually) for apple mint iced tea.

I'm thinking the second of the three small raised beds will be planted with herbs except for mint (if not this year then hopefully next spring).  The third has been planned for strawberry plants but that may wait until next year, too.

The larger raised beds are planted with a few cool weather veggies, various tomatoes, and green beans.  Pictures will follow although they look rather pathetically small right now.  I was quite shocked by the "before" and "after" garden pictures last year.  :)

As I told a friend recently, I decided not to grow any type of squash this year as it tended to take over the entire raised bed.  Should hubby get the other two raised beds done in time, I may plant squash in them.  Just taking it as it is available this year...

Weakness and fatigue continues to be an issue after the winter of illness.  However, as I have been working on the lawn and garden, I pray for the strength to continue on and to "do that which is before me"... that which must be done in a timely manner.  I look now at what has been accomplished and give Him all thanks.

I was listening to the last ten minutes of Ravi Zacharias' program on NRB last night.  The speaker (one of his staff members whose name I forget at the moment) was talking about being asked at one time if he could be argued out of his faith.  He thought of it for a moment and said he could not... for he had met the Lord and knew Him as a Person and not a set of ideas which could be argued away.

That is the way I felt today as I was doing dishes at the sink, the breeze blowing in through the window, and gazing at the flowers on the deck.   All I gave was a rather weak body and a strong will to have a garden and flowers on the deck.  He provided the strength, the seeds, the plants, the provision, the sun, the soil, the rain... everything. 

Show and tell

Or... what I've been doing lately.  I'm still in the midst of heavy duty lawn and garden work but I took some time today to get a little creative.  Thanks to a surprise gift from a sweet lady, I was able to purchase the herbs I wanted and a few plants for the deck.  I had just been praying for money to buy herbs and a few flowers the day her gift arrived!

There was a very nice sale on these three plants at Menard's.  They were much cheaper than buying the plants individually and all I had to do was transfer the geraniums into a couple of planters. 

The strange looking rooster was given to me by my sister, Bonnie.  A friend had given it to her and it just didn't fit in with her home (even though she loves roosters).  Have you ever had something so ugly it was cute?  That is what this rooster is to me.

My husband really doesn't care for my English Garden look.  If it were up to him, all the flowers would be one color.  Well, this year I'm "kinda" doing it his way.  I think he is liking the look I'm doing this year even if it does have more whimsy than usual. 

The white tub came from Goodwill, as did the sign.  The "knicky knackies" were thrift buys from seasons past.  The tub is holding a few sun loving herbs (most of the herbs are in the raised bed garden) and the flower pot on the deck fence has peppermint ivy geraniums... really... they will grow someday.

I will have to wait to do anything creative with the porch having spent my available funds on the garden and the deck.  I would eventually like to hang a Boston fern out there, along with coleus and another hanging basket... someday.  :)

However, I did find both of these sets of kiddie rubber boots at Goodwill the past few weeks.  They will both end up on the porch... where I am not certain.  LOVE those Suzy Zoo boots as well as the flaming candy red color of the second pair.

I still have lots and lots of lawn work and a little garden work over the next few days.  Everything getting done a little at a time...

Top picture... looking down the county road last week while the trees were in bloom.

All pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Giveaway over at Sally's blog

My sweet friend, Sally Clarkson, is having a give away for Mother's Day over at her blog... here.

She is giving away a collection of her books and since she is my favorite nonfiction writer (okay, tied with Edith Schaeffer), I can guarantee you would love them.

My favorite used to be The Mission of Motherhood until I read her latest book... that being Dancing With My Father. 

Mosey on over to her blog to sign up for the giveaway.  :)

A little (or big) bloggy warning about fake e-mails

I'll be back later with a real blog post but I did want to send out a warning.

This past month I have been inundated on the blog's e-mail address with e-mails telling me I had won money, inherited money, and stories of widows who need money.  I highly suspect these are coming from the same person or group of people.

I read on a friend's blog that she has been getting the same types of e-mails so they are probably using a blog's link list to find new victims.  To find this blog's e-mail address, one must click on the Write Me link so this is no mechanical spammer.  It is being done intentionally.

Quite a number of these e-mails are coming to the Inbox and not to the SPAM box so they are intentionally being sent to bloggers in such a way they are not picked up by SPAM warnings.

I have inherited money before and the information was never sent via e-mail through a stranger.  :)

Sunday Afternoon Tea

Sigh... it has been a long week.  It started with me throwing my garden gloves on the table and declaring to my husband there would be no garden this year and ended with a fairly good (not perfect) garden planted.  Some weeks are only able to be transgressed when leaning on The Everlasting Arms... deciding one has less physical, spiritual, and emotional strength left so a transfusion of strength is needed if we are to continue.

Life is like that at times.  We have the best of intentions but between the first spark of imagination and planning and the resulting accomplishment of something done... real life happens.  In this case, a combination of my husband not being able to prepare the soil as usual and my own physical weakness from being sick all winter.  I tried and tried to prepare the garden and plant as planned until the formerly mentioned day when I just gave up.

Thankfully, the mood passed quickly and I went back to living life "just a little at a time".  I bypassed bringing new compost for the prepared raised beds, saved the lettuce seeds for late summer, and realized I may have to plant herbs in May in containers should hubby not feel like building the new raised beds.

I planted the cool weather plants in the area that gets less sunlight (keeping them cooler I hope), planted all the tomato plants since it looks like all chances of frost are behind us, and planted bean "seeds" in the rest of the areas.  When the cool weather plants are harvested, a few other plants will take their place.  Should the remaining raised beds be built soon enough, pole beans will be planted along with herbs.

How many times have I quoted Edith Shaffer's "If you expect perfection or nothing... you will always end up with nothing".  I came close to it this week... nothing showing in the garden.  There is a deep chasm between life as I'd love it to be and life as it is.  But to give up and do nothing because we can't have everything is to turn our back on He Who Created Us.

So... I take the energy given for the day (give us this day our daily bread), the available finances, the stuff of life necessary to do that which is set before me... the next thing... and work with what He has given me to make a life... one day and a little bit at a time.

Some can rule kingdoms and run marathons and raise ten children and make all their own bread and all their meals from scratch and grow a huge garden and raise chickens and butcher their own cows and have energy left over to hand quilt the most gorgeous Baltimore Album quilt.  I can't...

To whom much is given much shall be required says the Book but Jesus also pointed out the small, weak woman... unseen by the rest of the world as she gave all she had at the Temple... mere pennies by their standard... but worthy of the Master calling her by name and having her remembered by all who would read the Book in the years to come.

She could have stayed home and complained... bitter against God for her lot in life.  Instead she gave what little she had.  I want to be like her and not think of what is lacking but what little is left... and plant a garden.... and live a life.

Happy Birthday Matthew!

Summer, 2009

Popping in from lawn and garden work to send out a special birthday wish.  

I love all four of my grandchildren just the same... a lot.  However, each of them holds a special place in Grammie and Granddad's heart (and Uncle Christopher likes them, too).

Matthew is my heart and soul and the one I bonded with when he visited just as his newborn stage was ending.  I spent hours looking into those eyes and he stole Grammie's heart.

He is the sweetest soul I know.

His mommy took a break from packing boxes to write about him... here.

Food, Inc... watch for free

PBS is making Food, Inc. available to watch online until Wednesday... here. 

It is worth your time to watch it.  Even if you don't agree with everything said, it will open your eyes to how our food is processed and what it is doing to our health.

Incredibly busy for a couple more days!

It's not easy being green... and conservative (repost)

I originally posted this last year but in honor of Earth Day, I thought I'd post it again.  It's a passion of mine that Christians can care about the environment and still be... conservative. :)

Don't ya just love Kermie? In our home there was a word that was, well... not to be muttered. It's a joke especially between Stephanie and me. We call it the "M" word. She tried to tell me Kermit wasn't real. She said Kermit was a... pardon the expression... Muppet. Wash your mouth out with soap, girl! Next thing she'll be telling me is that King Friday and Queen Sarah Saturday are the "P" word. Anyway, I do digress...

If you've been reading my ponderings for any length of time, you may have heard the expression I've shared quite often, "The best friend of the far left is the far right, they just don't know it". I first realized this when being part of a health food co-op (the president for a couple of years so I dealt a lot with the people in Iowa City... the far left) and later as a homeschooler.

I was thinking of this yesterday as I watched a favorite show on the Fox Network. The host was making fun of Earth Day. While I admit there are some outrageous people and statements among environmentalists, it does Conservatives (and Christians) no good to act as if there is nothing wrong with this world's ecosystem. We can disagree on what may be causing our environmental challenges but we show a lack of wisdom when we argue there is no problem.

There are great voices out there, representing the Christian viewpoint without fearing science. I remember reading Crunchy Con by Rod Dreher and nodding my head most of the way through the book. I looked like a conservative bobblehead as I found a like minded soul (we truly do read to know we're not alone). Not that I agreed with everything in Crunchy Con but a lot of it.

As I've mentioned before, the people who had the greatest influence on my life... through their books, tapes, film, etc... were Francis and Edith Schaeffer. I want to have tea with Edith in Eternity (although she is still alive!). I would have tears of joy as I shared tea and brought her a bouquet of flowers whose colors I have yet to see in this world. Without Edith's influence, I would be a far worse wife and mother.

If you've read the collection of books by the Schaeffer's, you will know they cared deeply about environmental issues. It comes through Edith's books about homemaking in a very practical fashion. Francis wrote an entire book about the subject titled Pollution and the Death of Man, which is still in print twenty-five years later.

I can't save the planet but I can do my own part to respect God's creation. I compost (for entirely selfish reason, it creates beautiful dirt and it helps save my septic system), I recycle newspapers, cans, and plastic, I save plastic bags and drop them off once in awhile to the Mission thrift store where they reuse them, I've only recently started carrying cloth bags with me to take to the grocery store, I reuse plastic containers at least once whenever possible, I buy used a lot which helps my budget and the environment, I use Charlie's Soap as well as other natural methods of cleaning, and... well, you get the idea.

We should never have a fear of Science or learning what is Truth. God can handle it. If we have the attitude of "it's all going to burn someday, anyway" we are doing a disservice to our children and grandchildren should the return of our Lord be later than we think. This comes from a former Jesus People type person who thought the return of Christ had to be in the 1980s. :)

I'll do my part in beautifying the earth today since it is finally nice outside again. I'll take the container from underneath the sink out to the compost pile. I'll help my husband remove the top layer of black gold from our former compost pile before planting our rhubarb (it has been too wet to plant it earlier). I've already turned off lights and unplugged recharging cords... little actions of environmentalism.

I have leftovers in the frig to turn into a meal. Nothing huge... no action taken that will immediately affect pollution or feed a child in Africa... but showing respect to the planet our Father made. And... yes, I am a conservative, evangelical, Christian who is green.

*The above originally published last year.

Food, Inc.

This evening on most American Public Broadcasting stations (PBS), Food, Inc. is going to be shown.  I have seen part of this documentary before and found it fascinating. 

This is one of those instances where the "far right" and the "far left" have a lot in common as we care deeply about how our food is grown and processed.

More information can be found... here.  It may be listed under POV in your tv listings.

Science honors and homeschooing

Along with everything else around my yard, my list of things which need to be done is blooming and expanding quickly.  The days are flying by and as all gardeners know, the time sensitive "must do's" take priority. 

Add to that the worst allergy season I can remember, household responsibilities, and time spent on campus... some things are obviously not going to get done... so don't be surprised if a couple days go by before I can say hello again.  :)

We attended the reception for honors students in the Science Department over the weekend at the University.  As I looked around at the large crowd, I texted Stephanie that I had just realized her dad and Christopher were dressed alike and that her hubby would fit right in (with most of the others in the crowd).  She texted back, saying they must be wearing khaki slacks and a blue shirt... yepparroo... (and navy blazers for our guys).  After all, these people are nerd-ish and darn proud of it.  :)

As I listened to the plans for the senior honorees... which included further education at places like Harvard and MIT, jobs at prestigious companies, etc.... I stood amazed at how God works.  As late as Christopher's junior year of homeschooling, I was concerned about him getting INTO college with his dislike of certain important subjects like math.  Little did I know he would end up on the Dean's List and in the Honors Program of one of the most difficult science curriculum in the country.

For someone who hadn't taken "real" tests until the community college or filled out a lab report, he has caught on quickly.  A friend who has helped tutor him the last couple of years was impressed by how he has learned to study during his freshman year.  Of course, when one spends hours and hours and hours studying each day... one will become very good.  :)

He's the president of one of the science clubs on campus, has a leadership position in another, and is in the midst of interviewing for a couple internships this summer (we're praying the research internship on campus goes through!).  He just found out yesterday he has been given a scholarship for next year, in addition to the grant money... which looks like next year is paid for if he again lives at home.

As I had plenty of time to ponder during the reception, I thought of all the flack we have taken through the years.  First in our decision to pull Christopher out of the public schools for good through the decision to have him take an additional year at the community college for additional math and science studies... with lots of opinions and finger pointing in between. 

Yes, Christopher will graduate later than friends his age due to that additional year at the community college (we spent the money to have him take his senior year of high school there, too) but when he entered University, he was well prepared for excellence.  The entire cost of a semester at the community college is the same as only one class at the University.

Of course, I believe he would not be who he is today if not for the homeschooling journey.  We took him out of the public schools after a disastrous first grade, homeschooled second grade, put him back in the public schools third grade only to realize he had been "labeled" as stupid.  I wonder what they would think of him now.

At the end of third grade, we dusted the public school sand off our feet... turned our backs... said goodbye to the nice teachers (which were most of them) and good riddance to the two or three who made his life and ours miserable... and began the marathon run of homeschooling all the way through high school.

I know homeschooling is not for everyone and I've seen it done badly as well as great but I am so happy we made that journey.  It was very hard work, especially when Christopher was still quite young and we worked through the ADHD symptoms.  But it became a source of great joy as the years went on and the lifestyle of our family became that of a homeschooling family.  Our life has been greatly blessed and expanded beyond anything we ever imagined at the beginning of the journey.

Now... all these years later... my grandchildren are being homeschooled by their mommy.  Times goes so fast... or as I often tell my husband, "Tempus Does Fugit".

Now, I must make my way to the wheelbarrow to move compost to the garden and make the time later to bake a cake for my husband's birthday tomorrow.  A load of laundry must be thrown in the washer and dishes set to soaking before going outside.  Lots to do and all just a little at a time.

Picture: Jesse Wilcox; allposters.com

Sunday Afternoon Tea

 "Choose for yourself whom you will serve... 

but as for me and my house, 

we will serve the Lord."

Joshua 24:15

We're back to normal temperatures for a few days, which feels so much colder... but welcome.  I like the seasons in order and the weather to have some kind of a pattern.  That is difficult enough in a normal year but everything is absolutely upside down this year.  What is that old commercial... it isn't nice to fool Mother Nature?  Uh, huh...

When I look out the french doors of the family room, the small bushes are beginning to lose their purplish-ness but the dogwood is blossoming.  It takes my breath away each spring, especially when in full bloom and the sun is rising behind it at dawn. 

The very tall trees are just beginning to show their leaves but the smaller trees in the forest (viewed from my front window) are all fully nice and green... a variety of shades from lime green to chartreuse to a shade I would call "Irish" green. All the lighter shades of new life.

I've been pondering the title of a book recently... Happiness is a Choice.  The book was popular many years ago (perhaps the 1980s?) but the title has stuck with me over the years.  Actually, what I was thinking about this past week was... in the world which we find ourselves living now... we've gone beyond having to choose happiness but the necessity of embracing joy.

Joy can be hard to come by these days for many people and happiness is fleeting at best.  Cable and satellite TV makes it possible for us to receive bad news 24/7... and there is plenty of bad news.  Not only is a volcano affecting Europe but the planet continues to shake (I saw an interview with a scientist this week who was very worried about all the recent major earthquakes) and our financial system is on its' own fault line.

We feel helpless as we see men and women walk in arrogance and greed making decisions affecting our daily existence which make them richer and more powerful... and many of us facing more lack and helplessness than we ever imagined.  That's all on top of the usual stresses of everyday living normal to life.

All of this coming at me this week as I'm making time and energy (or at least attempting) to plant a garden in addition to the usual gotta-do's of life.  Why bother?  I mean, really... given limited energy and plenty to do each day as it is... why add the burden of planting and weeding and watering and keeping chippy-munkies out of the fence as well as the neighbor's dog and cat?

Because I not only need to make a choice of happiness, I must embrace joy with every part of me.  I choose life!  There is something about planting and harvesting which takes me back to what is important in life.  As I plant seed as men and women have done for millennia before me, I am making a statement of hope and faith... that the seed will flourish and bring a harvest in due season.

Of course, I feel something quite similar when walking through the farmer's market early on a Saturday morning as an abundance of colors and fragrances (and often sounds) bring joy to my soul and a smile to the face.

Choosing life also means (to me) making the decision to pull the weeds of the negative out of my life.  I have chosen be more careful about tuning into the 24/7 news channels.  I have been monitoring what comes into my ears and eyes... which affects my thinking.  Not that I'm playing the ostrich and sticking my head in the sand... no, I still take in news and even some debate but it is no longer a steady diet.

Choosing life has meant carefully choosing what books to read and music to listen to and magazines to peruse and people to include in my circle of influence.  While the world appears to be unstable... there is much I can do to bring stability in my little part of the planet... as well as beauty and peace and faith.

I choose to read my Bible (which brings strength as well as faith).  I choose to take the time to really look at the dogwood blooms and sit long enough for a Maine Coon kitty to snooze on my flannel housecoat.  I choose to enjoy the first cup of morning coffee and to take the time to brew tea in a pretty teapot and sip it from fine English china.  I choose to enjoy a feast of homemade bread and real butter with strawberry jam.

I choose to chat with my favorite people in the whole world... my family... whether in person or on the phone.  I choose to talk throughout the day with He Who Created Me as I give Him my burdens and share my joys with a thankful heart... and to listen.

Choosing life and embracing joy rather than going with the flow and tumbling head first into the turmoil and trouble of the modern world.  Joshua had to choose life, forsaking the false Gods of those around him and embracing the One True God... some things have never changed.  :)

Early to rise, gardening, and Amazon

This was one of those rare days I didn't have to set an alarm clock and the thought of sleeping in was delicious.  However, at 6:00 this morning I started coughing again (brought about by weather changes) and by 6:30 there was no going back to sleep.  So... instead of sleeping I watched a couple cooking shows on The Food Network that I usually miss (like Nigella).  I do enjoy watching her.  :)

Actually, watching favorite cooking shows and sipping coffee with no place to go was just as delicious... perhaps more so... than sleeping in.  Once I was up and about.  I caught just a little of a farm show where the host was explaining how the odd weather has farmer's wondering if and when to plant... I feel their pain. 

The cold front went through yesterday... while it feels quite chilly, we're actually back to what it should feel like in April.  The rain moved in soon after I'd collected gardening gloves and seeds to work in the garden and remained part of the day.  Other then cutting some azaleas to brighten the house (which are too early, especially for last night's frost), gardening was put off until today.

To answer the question... yes, bloggers do get credit when you enter Amazon through their Amazon widget.  It doesn't cost you anything extra but the time it takes to go to the widget... and click.  You only have to click on one of the items (you need not purchase that item) and we receive credit for anything you buy... a tiny amount for third party purchases up to a very nice amount for groceries, clothing, electronics, etc. since they tend to cost more. 

The reports don't show who orders, just what has been ordered and the amount of credit received.  I send out a huge THANK YOU to anyone who has taken the time to use the widget and I have become better at going through my friend's blog when placing an order.

I once had my Amazon credit go up by $20.00 in one day (I check each day because I'm nosy that way) and it was a couple of electronics purchases.  That's more than my total for some months.  My credit is how I'm able to purchase some items I've been coveting (like the two Franklin Springs Homestead Blessings West Ladies DVDs). 

Sometimes I'll let small amount of credits build up for two or three months.  I like to stretch the credit by purchasing used whenever possible but I had to pay full price for these DVDs... and they are worth every penny!

A recent addition by Blogger is the ability to link directly from a title within the body of a post.  I decided to add that option as I tend to go to Amazon to check out more information about books, anyway.  That link gives a little credit should you purchase that book while at Amazon... but the main purpose is to make it easy to learn more about the book or video and check out the reviews.

I'm still reading and enjoying With Love, Edith.   It is so amazing to read these letters knowing the future and how famous L'Abri will become.  At this time, there is no thought of a ministry like L'Abri.  In my reading, they have now left Holland and are settled in their first town in Switzerland.  Their life is similar to any post WWII missionary family to Europe. 

I love "seeing" the beauty of this world through Edith's eyes and writings.  It has been very interesting to re-read how scarce food was in the various European countries after the war.  At one time this book was hard to find but now I'm seeing more inexpensive copies available used on Amazon.

Sigh... it is time to change out of the flannel housecoat and into "work clothes".  I've enjoyed a lazy morning... something we all need from time to time. My thoughts (and prayers) are constantly with Stephanie as they are packing for their move.  Praying all goes smoothly and they can get all moved in to the other house and unpacked (at least the important stuff) before the new baby girl arrives.

Picture: I wish I knew the title of this one!

The Amazon widget

Gosh, I don't know what to tell you if the Amazon widget is not showing up on your server.

It still shows up for me, below "Receiving My Attention Off and On".  It is a little lower than it was since I moved the "Pages" to the sidebar instead of under the header.

I view the world wide web via Firefox.

Weird...

Still working and resting and resting and working

The garden last summer

Actually, while chatting with you all I am also watching my West Ladies DVD about herbs.  Technology is a wonderful thing (and I am always mentally thanking my blog friend who gave me the laptop when our old computer kept crashing).  :)

I can't tell you how enjoyable the canning and herb DVDs are to watch.  There is so much to learn and they are nice to view over and over (as I'm a visual learner... and slower the older I get... sigh).   It also makes me hope hubby can build the second raised bed (or using the lumber for three small raised beds) soon.  I'll have a little extra money the beginning of May for the garden and I'd love to use some of it for herbs.  If we do build three smaller beds, we may use one of them for strawberries.  Still pondering that decision...

I'm resting a bit after being outside working... actually, I'm resting a lot.  That is a hot sun for April.  Which reminds me, I shouldn't have watched that disaster movie recently about the sun burning up the earth.  Especially with such a hot April.  Creepy...  It's a good thing we're getting back to normal soon or one would begin to wonder.

The raised bed has been hoed and weeded but the decision was made to hoe once more before planting... letting the hot sun bake the soil a little to kill more weeds.  One side of the raised bed will be planted with the two different kinds of green beans.  The other side will get other veggies and the tomato plants.   I decided not to plant squash this year since it takes up so much of the raised bed, I'll plant it again next year (if and when) we extend the garden. 

This morning I continued my "little bit at a time" spring cleaning by moving the extra bags of chocolate chips from the garage to the deep drawer in the kitchen where I'd cleared room for them (they share the drawer with my extra boxes of tea).  When it begins to get warmer, there are a few items that are better kept inside where they benefit from the air conditioning. 

I had to teach myself a different way of housekeeping when I developed a chronic illness and it does work so nicely now.  There are good benefits about housework (lawn and garden work, crafting, cooking, sewing, etc.) done a little at a time... such as... one eventually gets a lot done, it is better to accomplish a little than get behind, and... one can always do a little more when time and energy make it possible.

Over time I have learned to divide work... such as making bread dough for cinnamon rolls in the evening (I use my bread machine on dough cycle), letting it rise in the frig overnight, and then rolling it out in the morning.  I often make either chicken or beef soup stock one day and then finish it the next (which also allows the fat to be skimmed off easier). 

Like my mother-in-law used to do, I like to assemble casseroles in the morning and then pop them in the oven later for dinner... which means all the clean up was also done in the morning.  Of course, there is always the CrockPot with dinner assembled in the morning to serve later.  So many ways to divide work when necessary.

One doesn't have to experience a chronic illness to do a little at a time for there are so many times in life that one experiences less energy (pregnancy, colds and flu, etc.) or time (sports practices, seasonal church activities, work outside the home, etc.).  It's just a different way of thinking and doing but it works (for me).  :)

Sping cleaning

 Yellow pantry (last year?)

It's getting to be that time of year when the gotta-do list becomes longer and longer.  I remind myself again that it doesn't take a lot of time to accomplish anything... just consistency. 

I'd been putting off cleaning out the kitchen cabinets that hold food "stuff" and the yellow pantry.  Just the thought of those messes (which came about by not being careful when putting things away this winter) made me tired.  So... this morning I decided to tackle the spaces by bringing empty brown grocery bags to the kitchen and begin putting things in them that I didn't want in the kitchen.

It took about ten minutes to completely organize the kitchen cabinets once I took away the items that didn't belong there.  The yellow pantry took just a little longer only because I had to think more... which always takes more time.  Still, considering how long I'd put those chores off, it wasn't all that long.

By using my "little at a time" way of working, I organized the shelves today and will put away the other "stuff" on shelves in the garage where I keep my "pantry"... tomorrow or Friday... but not today... without guilt.  I kept opening the shelves to look at how beautiful they looked.  :)

I'm dividing and conquering the garden by going out this evening to weed and hoe the raised bed while tomorrow I will plant.  Yes, I was going to plant a couple days ago but it didn't happen.  The baby plants are in a vintage white enamel pan getting watered and waiting for their time in the sun (literally).  We're to dip in the 30s this weekend at night so I'm thinking the tomato plants will stay in the pan until next week.

It is really early to plant anything but the cool weather veggies here but we went from winter to summer.  We usually plant around Mother's Day unless the long range forecast shows no freezes.... then it is more like May 1st. 

I am enjoying re-reading With love, Edith: The L'Abri family letters (by Edith Schaeffer).  If I include those years I just perused part of the book then this is my fifth or sixth reading.  Of course, I have read it through from beginning to end before as I'm doing now.  These were the real letters Edith at first wrote to her mother and family and then as time went on they went to everyone who helped support them at L'Abri.

There was a time when we were going through a very difficult season, not knowing what the immediate future held (which required making a move back "home" without a job).  I remembered reading a few times when the Schaeffer's went through the same thing and God always provided... which built my faith (and He did with us, too).

Because these letters were written to her mother, they were very personal... sharing how she was concerned about a child's fever as well as what they were doing for the ministry.  At the beginning of this book, they have just arrived in Europe (Holland) and will later be going to Switzerland. 

With everything there is to do, I may just get this book and her second book of letters read by the end of April.  That's okay, it isn't a race.  :)

Spring has definitely sprung...

It's gorgeous here, beautiful... breathtaking... the colors of pastel eggs in an Easter Basket all blooming at once.  In spite of watery eyes and sniffles, I so enjoy this time of year.  It was this kind of a spring day that Stephanie and I drove to Brimfield for their famous flea market, passing on the way the pinks and violets and lime green of a New England May... a later spring than we have in our part of the Midwest.

Driving into campus today reminded me of that spring day and the fun we had at the flea market.  A perfectly enjoyable day.  Almost worth the terrible airplane flight into Hartford for that visit... the same flight which made 1,000 miles of driving not so bad in October of last year.  :)

My venturing onto campus was necessary to borrow Christopher's car today.  I met my friend for coffee, the first long chat after a winter of not feeling so well.  Later, an hour was spent at my favorite nursery choosing a few veggies to plant tomorrow (lettuce, kale, and heirloom tomatoes) as well as two packages of heirloom seeds for string beans.

The unusually warm April weather has turned the nursery upside down with signs warning what to do if temperatures return below freezing.  It is much earlier than I would normally plant tomatoes but the heirloom varieties were already getting picked over.  Only a few herbs were available, most not ready for a couple of weeks. It's awfully warm to be planting the cold weather crops normally planted right now.  Go figure...

I picked up hubby for a trip to Menards.  I love Menards... not as much as a bookstore but close.  My father built houses for a living and my husband has a degree in wood technology (furniture engineering).  Our guests threw sawdust at our wedding instead of rice.  :)

Places like Menards have lumber and glue and hammers and nails and garden stuff and electrical stuff and plumbing and all kinds of things that could drive a creative person into a tizzy.  Sigh... we left with a new filter for the well, oil for the lawn mower, and wooden sticks to write what I'm planting tomorrow... particularly when planting seeds.

So, we will all do our best and carefully watch the expected low temperatures.  Tomorrow I will plant beans and tomatoes and "cold weather veggies" and one orange mint plant (thinking that had better go in a container?).  Hubby will build the remaining raised bed soon.  Hopefully in time to plant an herb garden and strawberries.

New life, the expectation that seeds planted will become heirloom green beans canned in August (or July this year?).  The remarkable miracle of seeds and tiny plantings growing into dinner someday.  Once again... the dream of Eden.  :)

Today I won't think of weeding or constant watering or making certain little furry creatures do not get past the fence.  That is for another day. 

Picture: Under the Sunflowers; allposters.com

Sunday Afternoon Tea

Have you ever wondered what a perfect day would look like?  I was pondering that yesterday while thinking of what I would like to be doing.  Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful to be making a slow recovery from the winter's seemingly endless illnesses but one does still get frustrated at limitations.  In this case, the limitations brought on by fatigue and money and distance.

I would have loved to be outside doing a little more lawn work as well as taking a hoe to the raised bed garden.  I wanted to drive to our favorite nursery and purchase lots and lots and lots of flowers, plants, and starts of veggies.  I'd even have enjoyed to go to the mall and shop for a new pair of sandals and perhaps sheets for my bed... and I never want to go to the mall unless I get dropped off at Border's.

I wanted to have coffee with my daughter and visit the cute antique shops in the town where she lives.  Then have dinner at her place and enjoy watching grandchildren at play.  I wanted to go with her family to their church with the really nice people who always welcome me with open arms and tell me I am "just like my daughter".

That's the way the human mind can work, you know.  We look past all that is good and we long for what we don't have at times.  That's a delicious hamburger but how long has it been since we had steak?  We love our children but why can't they behave like our friend's precious mild mannered kids?  Our car runs great but we find ourselves eying that red jobbie as we drive by the new car lot.  Little bits of coveting here and there... longing for that which is beyond our grasp.

All of this being jumbled up in my mind as I asked Him for forgiveness and thanked Him for all that has been given, so much to be thankful for in this life.  We're just passing through and it isn't Heaven, yet.  That longing is for a Place still to come, the real Home for which we long.  We were created in a garden and we long for Eden.  We must learn to curb unmet expectations for they will always be with us as we walk this planet... having longings instead of a thankful heart.

It made me wonder what would be a perfect day given unlimited health and money, when distance is no object and anything is possible.  It would include beautiful weather and gardens and perhaps a picnic table next to a clear lake... family all around... those gone and those living far away... people... fellowshipping around a table in the midst of beauty.

Is that God's perfect day?  As He watches us act out our imperfections and wonders how humanity can make such bad decisions.  Does He ever want to look the other way when we choose sin instead of Him?  Does it warm His heart when we say Thank You and cause Him to smile as a child says evening prayers?  What is God's perfect day? 

That which is to come when once again the morning stars sing their praise and the trees clap their hands... and His people are all together at the table... the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.  The day our hearts all come Home.

A little at a time

I suppose that is my mantra in life.  Can Christians have mantras?

Anyhoo... I've been preaching that to both myself and my daughter this week.  Especially as she is trying to pack the belongings for a family of six while going into her 9th month of pregnancy.  Having packed while pregnant and a few times when sick, I remembered how much could be accomplished by packing just a couple of the difficult boxes and many of the easier ones each day... until it became necessary to bring others in when the move was close.

Thankfully, that cold never became as bad as Christopher's, most likely because I could rest a lot and he couldn't.  I still have the annoying cough, which started with the plague and continues due to the cold and seasonal allergies.  I don't have them nearly as bad as the guys, just the normal watery eyes and sniffles... and cough.  Compared to the illnesses of winter, I'm downright healthy!  All that to say... I'm back to a regular household maintenance schedule.

Saturday is a work day for me, most likely a carry over from my former life when I worked outside the home all week.  Just as Sunday is a slow day for pondering He Who Created Me, Saturday morning is met with a to do list.  Today I've been getting caught up on laundry and I hope to organize my shelves in the tall pantry and another kitchen shelf.  They all became cluttered over the winter and I haven't a clue what is behind some of those jumbled up packages and cans.

I'm hoping to get back to a schedule of baking soon, to have healthy snacks for the guys here at home and for Christopher to take with him to campus.  I am still getting fatigued easily and with a mountain of laundry (which has been reproducing on its' own), I didn't want to spend a lot of time baking today.  So, I made this...

Chocolate Cherry Cake

No, it isn't healthy but it is easy and delicious and a favorite around here.  It is also one of my pantry dishes, meaning all or most of the ingredients can be kept in the pantry for when that moment when one craves chocolate.  I believe the cake in the picture above used a devil's food cake mix.  I now almost always use a german chocolate cake mix, which is a little lighter (use devils food if you like a rich, dark chocolate).

I make most of my cakes and icing but there are a few recipes which start with a cake mix that the family considers just as good as "from scratch".  This is one of them.  Since I can't eat sugar very often, I have become very picky about what I make for those rare times I can give in.  Most of the time it involves chocolate.

I must admit to cutting a slice while it was still slightly warm, putting it on a plate, and letting it sit in the freezer about fifteen minutes.  My excuse was that I wanted to have a piece for lunch after taking my insulin... the truth was I just couldn't wait.  I like this cake cold (never warm!) so it is usually stored in the frig but it's just fine at room temperature. 

It's a good potluck and picnic cake, I just bake it in a 9 x 13 stainless steel baking pan that has a lid you can slide on when transporting it.  Just be certain to bring napkins for a picnic.  :)

The recipe can be found... here.

Errands and a little more Edith

I found myself battling traffic... automobile and student... this morning.  Have I mentioned how much I dislike driving on campus with 40,000+ students who have a rather odd view of their own mortality, appearing to think they can walk out in front of an automobile and... because they are in a group... not get hurt.  Sigh...

However, we needed to pick up the Buick which has been at our mechanic's garage since we realized it would cost too much to fix it right now. It is quite a sight as students are walking toward buildings in droves, a group of well educated lemmings all weary eyed and not quite prepared to meet the day.  But then again... neither was I until I counted out my change and stopped at McDonald's for coffee.

I stopped by our Kroger store on the way home for milk and eggs.  They are pretty good about clearancing some items early in the morning and as I looked around, I found a bag of romaine lettuce for 99 cents, a package of mushrooms for 99 cents, and a package of hamburger buns for 49 cents.  I felt a bit like I was on The Food Network's Chopped show (where the chef contestants are given an unusual group of ingredients to prepare).  :)

There was a large sign on their kosher food display, announcing everything 85% off now that Passover has been celebrated.  I'm not Jewish but I picked up two bottles of white sparkling grape juice and one red sparkling grape juice (89 cents each) and two boxes of potato pancake mix for about the same price.  Milk was on sale so it all added up to big savings. 

I dropped my husband at our mechanic's this afternoon, he drove the car home while I continued further to pick up a prescription.  Christopher's little car is fun to drive in town but I chose to stay off the highway with it... too many big trucks... little car.

For the first time since the world was covered with the colors of autumn, I took the long way home.  It is not a road I like to drive on covered with snow or ice but the remainder of the year... beautiful!  To travel along these county roads, passing farms getting ready for planting, horses enjoying newly grown grass, my favorite quaint country church... K-Love on the radio... it doesn't matter if it takes a little longer to reach my destination. :)

Let's see, I wanted to comment on a couple of comments...

Actually, Edith Schaeffer is still alive at age 95.  It was Francis Schaeffer who passed away in the 80's. I think she lives with her daughter, Priscilla.  The last Swiss L'Abri newsletter I received was in December but Edith was able to be there for Thanksgiving.  They have mentioned before that she can no longer get around very well.  I can't remember how I started getting their newsletters through e-mail (about four times a year) but I believe you can request receiving the e-mail newsletters by writing swiss@labri.org.

No one had more influence in my life than the Schaeffer's.  When we married, our senior pastor was at L'Abri for the summer so we had to be married by the associate pastor.  My husband attended a different church but his pastor and church staff were also very influenced by Schaeffer.  How I thank God that we can be taught and mentored through books and tapes. 

Of course, there are no perfect people (hmmm... the title of a book they wrote, hehehe) but I'd much rather hear how imperfect people live the Christian life than all the books by those who put on a mask and pretend their lives are perfect.  I feel that is something Edith always did but with grace and being quite careful to protect the... ummm... innocent bystanders.  :)

Sigh, I know there was something else but it slipped my mind between sitting down to write and actually writing.   I need a nap or caffeine but it is too late for either.

The aroma of baked chicken on a cold day

Brrrr...  after a day of off and on storms, the cold front came through (literally with a bang).  I knew it was going to get chilly again but the shock of a windchill back in the 30s left me shivering as I walked to the county road for my newspaper.  It is weather like this in the Midwest that has caused my husband all the years of our marriage to say we're moving to San Diego (or another place where the meteorologists can become bored).

Later today, I plan to watch the West Ladies' herb DVD again... while I want to learn about the herbs, it is also just fun to watch and a good way to take a break from housework.  Yes, their videos are outstanding and even the music videos are of excellent quality.  Every Franklin Springs video I've seen is of such high quality. 

A chicken is in the oven... stuffed only with half a rather large onion, drizzled with olive oil, and sprinkled with both salt and Mrs. Dash's lemon pepper.  The white meat is destined for a chicken casserole this evening, a promise to my son for dinner should he be able to come home in time.  The remainder of the chicken (along with the onion stuffing and any good "drippings") will be placed in a stock pot for a very welcome chicken soup.  Nothing fancy... just the chicken stock, dark meat, and a handful of brown rice... perhaps a squirt of lemon... all sounding wonderful when it is cold and one has the sniffles.

Speaking of food and such, I stated reading Molly Wizenberg's book A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table. Not only did it survive the first few chapters but I couldn't put it down.  I was reading it just before midnight last night and finished it this morning. (Reading in the daytime is a luxury which comes when your children grow up.)

Now, there are a few instances of mild "language" but never the foul vulgarity found in Julie & Julia (which, if you have read here for long, you will know I find one of the worst books ever and returned it to the library after two or three chapters).  She admits to being "nonreligious" but not in an offensive way.

Molly, in sharing her life and how she came to start her blog (Orangette) does talk about a few romantic encounters through the years... before meeting her husband... and they lived together before their wedding.  While not my lifestyle, she does not go into detail or become vulgar as in the previously mentioned book.  Nor does she have the loose morals of Alice Walter's in her hippy lifestyle which one reads about (over and over) in her biography.

What one does come away with is a love for food and the realization of how food can be such an integral part of all our relationships, especially family and close friends.  Here is an excerpt from the beginning of her book:

"When I walk into my kitchen today, I am not alone.  Whether we know it or not, none of us is.  We bring fathers and mother and kitchen tables, and every meal we have ever eaten.  Food is never just food.  It's also a way of getting at something else: who we are, who we have been, and who we want to be."

As soon as I read that paragraph, I knew this woman felt the same way I did about food and recipes and how I associate those who have gone from my life (whether through death or having moved to another state) with their recipes.  She is an excellent writer and I do recommend the book with the above cautions.  Some can read it and overlook her personal life, others cannot.

Stephanie was telling me recently what items she will be moving in their van to keep them safe.  I reminded her that one of the objects I always kept with me (and never allowed on a moving van) was the recipe box that held our most important family recipes.  I do have two other recipe boxes, one which holds recipes I don't use often (but want to keep) and the other which contains Taste of Home recipe "cards".  But the box which held the important recipes came along with me, usually sitting beside my purse where I could keep an eye on them.  :)

I have mentioned before that my in-law's were critical people and my husband's memories are not always pleasant.  However, the exception to this was dinner time and his mother's cooking.  I must admit when I think of them, it is almost always at that table in the "breakfast room" addition... looking out on their backyard.  I thought of my mother-in-law as I pulled out the casserole recipe this morning for she was the "queen of casseroles".

My own mother comes to mind when I fry chicken or make her vegetable soup... and on those rare times we eat at our favorite cafeteria, which mom loved.  We were just talking about her recently when we saw a commercial for the cafeteria, how in all the years she went there she ordered the same items off the menu.  :)

Making candy brings the remembrance of Bonnie's mother-in-law and her homemade candy each Christmas... even though she passed away long before Christopher was born.  For food memories are among the strongest and longlasting.

That is the message of the book and it made me want to take the recipe card file to the coffee table, along with a hot cup of tea... and go down memory lane... with the recipes of others and my own from long ago when our family was younger.  :)

Heat, Edith, and Jewels

Late July

We went directly from winter to summer, or so it seems.  The daffodils are not loving the 80+ degree days and one of our azalea bushes has bloomed... remarkable at this time of spring.   A cold front is pushing through as I write (with a 50 degree drop in temperature from yesterday to tonight) bringing with it the possibility of severe weather but also a return to spring proper.

A recent walk down the short gravel lane to the mailbox caused my heart to sing, reminding me not just a little of Narnia after Aslan's return and the winter was losing hold of the Narnia universe.  The forest this time of year is much different than the same forest in August.  Most trees are pencil thin but what they lack in width, they make up in sheer number.  In early April, it is quite easy to see through the trees to the other houses interspersed in man made clearings... not so in August.

The tall trees are just beginning to show tiny buds (which, I'm sure, will pop soon with the record breaking heat) but the smaller bushes and the brush on the floor of the forest are now various shades of lime green or violet or soft yellow... Easter colors.

This same stretch of forest becomes thick and dense as spring turns into summer (when heat is expected).  It is at that time that a walk to the mailbox gives one the sense that Bigfoot is staring out from the trees and if you have read my ponderings long enough, you will know all about that Bigfoot paranoia.  It doesn't matter that the only big footprints to be found on our property belong to my 6'2" husband... the creepy darkness of the forest can easily spark my imagination.

Perhaps that is why I have never liked the darkness or things that go bump in the night... an overactive imagination.  I never, ever walk down the lane at night but a walk from the car to the front porch in the dark is inescapable at times... or should I say run?  Anyway, I digress... the forest is also dense with new life right now... life that causes me to pause in my walk to listen and look... rather than breaking into a run.

I'm already feeling better, giving hope that this cold will be mild.  A stack of magazines both old and new (but mostly brought home from the free table at the library) are stacked on the coffee table, along with a few books.  On my last library visit, I found A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg on the New Nonfiction shelf.  Molly is well known for her cooking blog, Orangette.  I plan to peruse it today to see if it is worth reading or another book to be returned quickly to the library shelves.

 
After a quick pre-reading appraisal of Wizenberg's book, I may start reading it today (or return it to the library should it be a disappointment).  I plan to begin rereading With love, Edith: The L'Abri family letters next which is the first of her two books containing their ministry letters.  Do not let the thought of reading ministry letters keep you from this book... it reads like a novel.

I highly recommend this book and the sequel, Dear family: The L'Abri family letters, 1961-1986 to anyone who enjoys Edith Schaeffer's books.

Edith has written many good books other than her two most famous for today's homemakers... The Hidden Art of Homemaking and What is a Family?.  If you are not quite ready to read their full story in The Tapestry: The Life and Times of Francis and Edith Schaeffer, then the smaller book L'Abri is both enjoyable to read and gives the highlights of their life leading up to and including the the start of L'Abri.

There are many more besides these and all of them really, really good.  Although, Edith's books are rather infamous for having a slow start for some people... just keep reading, you will be glad you did.  :)

Photo stolen from Jewels' blog

Regarding Jewels... she is my all time favorite blogger and sweet friend who has not blogged for sometime now.  The last time I heard from her was in an e-mail telling me she planned to write a letter soon but that was before Christmas.  I will put pen to paper and actually send a real letter, hoping to find how she is doing.  I do know that they were experiencing difficulties with internet service where they now live (which is not immediately near any big towns).

If you have not read Jewel's blog called Eyes of Wonder, well... get comfortable and plan on perusing for awhile because it does not get (in my humble opinion) any more fun to read than this.  Jewel's family made a choice to live a more simpler lifestyle... which I am sure is not easy... or simple.  :)

No, Jewels and the West Ladies are not one and the same but they are good friends.  You can read about their visit to Jewels and her family... here.

Franklin Springs videos, a review

Since you asked for a review... I first heard of the Franklin Springs videos when the NRB channel (National Religious Broadcasters - Direct TV) played them ever Wednesday night.  They now play them off and on Saturday nights at 9:00 EST but not on a regular basis as they did when they were on Wednesdays.

These are fantastic family oriented videos.  My favorites are the West Ladies Homestead Blessings DVDs.  They used to be only offered in packages but on amazon.com I can get them individually.  The "ladies" are a mom and her three daughters.  Part of the fun of watching them is how they relate to each other.

The first three I saw on NRB were about breadmaking, soap making, and candle making.  They now also offer videos about herbs, canning, gardening, cooking, sewing, and dairy delights.  I would not be at all surprised to hear they continue to make new videos, they are so popular.

I also wondered how indepth the Homestead Blessings: the Art of Herbs DVD could be but it had excellent reviews on Amazon from those who knew about herbs.  I learned a lot from this one hour video and I've already gone back to different parts of it to review. Just watching it a couple of times has changed my mind about what herbs I will plant this year.  I also learned why my basil didn't grow well until later in the season. :)

The Homestead Blessings: Homestead Blessings: The Art of Canning video is also about an hour long and it covers water canning, pressure canning, making jam, pickling, and general questions about canning.  Their section about pickling is all about pickling eggs which they use in various salads (green salads, potato salads, tuna salad, etc.).  I think it has given me the inspiration to not only water bath can this year but to dust off the old pressure canner!

My favorite video which I first saw on NRB was  Homestead Blessings: The Art of Bread Making.  I've been making bread since the 70's and I still enjoyed watching this.  Their videos about candle making and soap making were good, I just know they are not something I will do soon.  I haven't had a chance to view any of their others, yet.

I do hope to add Homestead Blessings: The Art of Gardening and Homestead Blessings: The Art of Dairy Delights videos to my library and I can see getting Homestead Blessings: The Art of Cooking for Elisabeth someday.  Even at eight years old, she shows a lot of culinary interest and talent.  I'm thinking my future Amazon credit will go these three purchases.  :)

You can preview the trailers of their DVDS... here.  I highly recommend them not only for grown up ladies but even little girls would enjoy watching them and learn a great deal.  It goes without saying they would make an excellent homemaking skills class for homeschoolers.

The West Ladies were first introduced in the DVD A Journey Home and later in Inherit the Land... the first video a story about one family's return to the land and the second about a few other families who opted for a more agrarian lifestyle.

Franklin Springs offers many other family and homeschool friendly DVDs on their main website... here. 

The West Ladies are also known for their singing.  For those who followed our beloved Jewels' blog, they came to visit her at one time and I so enjoyed reading about it.  Here they are singing Green Beans in the Garden (you may have to turn off my music on the sidebar by clicking on the two vertical lines).  I love family harmony!  (I wondered who the smaller kids were and on YouTube they said they are neighbor's kids.)

Sniffing, learning, and going to war

Huh?  Well, I guess I should say from the get-go that the war I'm battling is with an outbreak of ants.  I've never seen them as bad as they are this year.  Miss Victoria located the newest area of the house to see the hatching of ants when last night she sat staring at the floor by the garage door.  I noticed a few ants then but this morning there were an entire army.  Ants fascinate her as much as they annoy me.

That was a great game last night!  While we wished the outcome would have been in Butler's favor, they certainly made winning difficult for Duke.  One difference about the NCAA finals is that people truly do remember who made it to the final four (sometimes even more than who won it all).  So... Michigan State and Butler can be proud.  Hopefully next year will be a better year for our university.

I must admit to not watching much of the game, just getting caught up with the score now and then from hubby.  A scratchy throat started yesterday so I knew Christopher had once again shared his germs.

I felt better propped up in the family room watching the TV hooked up to Direct TV (the old living room TV is hooked up to an antennae so we can get ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS... with the final four being shown on CBS).

By about 5:00 this morning, I had awakened a few times with a stuffy nose and swollen throat blocking my breathing.  Ugh... giving up on going back to sleep, I surprised Victoria by moving my pillow and a throw covering to the sofa, once again propped up enough to breath easier.  I must remember to tell my son to leave his germs at the front door.  :)

As for learning... I am thoroughly enjoying the Franklin Springs DVD of the West Ladies which is all about herbs.  It is enjoyable just to watch the video but there is so much to learn.  They take you from growing various herbs to drying them, making vinegars, herb butters, various herbal teas (cold and hot), etc.

I am SO glad Amazon is offering the Franklin Springs DVD's now so I can save up credit for them.  I learn by watching them over and over.  Stephanie tells me Netflix is now offering them.

These videos not only teach a lot of basic homemaking and gardening skills but they remind me that our lifestyle can be a choice.  Not everyone will live in the Tennessee countryside like the West Ladies but we can incorporate aspects of a simpler lifestyle in our own lives... a little at a time.  :)

I can see a second viewing of parts of the video today while sniffing and coughing on the sofa.  Now to take some extra Vitamin C!

Oh, the Amazon widget is back, I have no idea what was wrong with it for awhile.  I highly suspect the problems with the e-mail address came the same day I could not access Hotmail.  Every once in awhile, they get a glitch.  I checked it again yesterday and the e-mail from the family e-mail account went through just fine to the Hotmail blog account.

Picture: Roosters and Chicken poster; allposters.com