When I went to our local thrift store this past weekend for their monthly bag sale, I found a vintage chair with needle-point upholstery that I thought might match my vintage couch. How happy I was! But I noticed there were two springs under the cushion that were broken, so I decided to ask Kyle first if it could be fixed. He figured it probably could be fixed, or the springs replaced, so I went back to purchase it for a mere fifteen dollars. I brought one of my couch cushions to see if the colors would blend, and yep, they did. Now the sweet little chair is sitting right next to the antique table from Kyle's Grandma, with the matching antique doily on top, that is next to the vintage couch. I'm thrilled at how God has put together our living room. Let me 'splain.
Last summer I found my couch in a used furniture store. I was told it might be up to 70 years old but it's in such pristine condition, I doubt that is the case, because it has not been re-upholstered. I think it is probably from the 60's, and it has a miriad of colors - several shades of green, tan, cream and orange. The frame is a lovely carved oak and it has a coordinating glass-topped oak coffee table. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it and was shocked they only wanted $150 for both pieces. I had them put my name on the couch and told them I would pick it up as soon as I was able. The store was a couple of hours away in the town we had moved my Mother to when she needed assisted living. Unfortunately though Mom's health rapidly declined and she died a couple weeks later - and with the expenses of travelling and moving and then costs associated with the funeral, I knew purchasing the couch was not going to be possible. I briefly prayed that if God wanted me to have the couch that it would be available when we could afford it. Then I put all thoughts of the couch out of my mind - no sense dwelling on something I probably could not have, and my mind was occupied with my family's needs at the time.
Fast-forward eight months later when we received our tax return. On a whim I called the furniture store to see if the couch was still available - and it was!! I told them I would come and pick it up and arranged a date, and very gleefully made the trip. While I was there I met up with a good friend and my sister-in-law for lunch. I was so happy!
When I got home Kyle and the kids had moved our old couch out of the living room (which I gave away on FreeCycle) and had everything vacuumed and dusted, ready to move the new couch in. I was so excited - this was one of the nicest pieces of furniture I had ever had the pleasure of owning!
Slowly, over many years, I have accumulated different pieces of furniture to put together our living room, and it has become one of my favorite rooms in my house. The needlepoint chair was a thrill for me to find and it coordinates beautifully with the couch. I also have a china hutch, a long and narrow glass-topped table I put pictures on (I inherited this table from my Mother, and I spray-painted it a cream color), my Mother's wooden rocking chair, an antique sewing machine a friend of mine gave to me, and one of my favorite pieces, an antique wooden school desk that I found several years ago in a little shop in a small town.
The funny thing is that the doily on the end table from Kyle's Grandma is the thing that ties it all together - and I have had it the longest of anything in the living room. It has most of the colors I have decorated with - cream, green, orange and brown. Who'd have thought that all those years ago when she crocheted that doily I'd be using it still in 2008.
These are my Vintage Blessings - and they are treasures to me. If I can ever figure out how to post pictures I will. I'm hoping to eventually find a large area rug for the living room. I wonder what God might have for me to put in there next?
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
A Vivid Memory
Today I was in my favorite store (that would be Wal-Mart!) and I had the most vivid memory of my dear Mother, who died last summer. I was getting material for Peachie to sew culottes for herself for camp, and the woman who was measuring out the yardage deftly flipped the bolts of cloth to get the 2 yards I needed, sliding the material through her hands and laying it down against the measuring stick on the table. Suddenly I remembered standing next to my Mom as she purchased cloth, and it was as though I was watching the lady measure and cut through the eyes of a little girl. I could remember looking at patterns with Mom, picking out notions and buttons and thread and many other fascinating things at the local seamstress' shop. I could hear the shirr and click of the scissors as the material was cut. My Mom could literally sew anything - and she often did without a pattern. She would make matching outfits for herself, my sister and I. We'd pick out pretty material together and matching lace or rick-rack, and zippers or elastic. We must have gone on many shopping trips together because this memory was so vivid - I could even smell the yard goods and remember telling her just what kind of outfit I wanted her to sew. How talented she was with so many things! I got such a lump in my throat that I was glad there was a couple of ladies ahead of me in the line - because I got a little teary-eyed remembering.
Now my dear Peachie sews on the machine my Mother once used. Mom passed many things down to my daughter - her love of literature, history, quilting, crocheting and now, sewing. When Peaches is sitting at the machine sewing away I can almost see Mom sitting there. She would have been so proud to see her granddaughter using the machine.
I miss you, Mom. I wish we could have been shopping together today, or that I could have at least called you and told you about these precious memories.
Now my dear Peachie sews on the machine my Mother once used. Mom passed many things down to my daughter - her love of literature, history, quilting, crocheting and now, sewing. When Peaches is sitting at the machine sewing away I can almost see Mom sitting there. She would have been so proud to see her granddaughter using the machine.
I miss you, Mom. I wish we could have been shopping together today, or that I could have at least called you and told you about these precious memories.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Homestead In My Heart
Recently I considered renaming my blog "Homestead In My Heart" because I was reading a favorite blog of mine by a woman who is living the things I hope to do some day - like owning a country home, and raising lots of critters. She has all sorts of wonderful pictures on her blog, and the best recipes - most of them made from scratch. In one of her entries she encouraged her readers to consider themselves "homesteaders" wherever they are - if it's on their own land, in town, or even in an apartment in the city. I liked that thought, and since that day I have been considering our little corner of the world to be our very own homestead - even though we are renting a duplex in a small town. It's all about attitude. I'm doing many of the things I would do if were in the country - homeschooling, gardening, baking, cooking, homemaking, etc. - and with all the conveniences of town living! ;)
Peachie and I polished up her vintage dresser today (I love vintage finds! and this was given to us, such a blessing!) and so now all she has to do is have Daddy move it to her room and attach the mirror. She was also recently given a Captain's bed with drawers underneath (another blessing! Thank you Lord!!) and so she has plans to re-arrange her room once we are able to pick up the bed.
Peachie and I also went to the thrift store in our little town today as they have a monthly bag sale - all the clothes, shoes, purses, and even toys you can fit into a bag for five bucks. Well, we found enough to stuff the bag full AND I found something that thrills me to my toes because I have been wanting one for a very long time - a KitchenAide mixer with dough attachment!! WOOHOO!!! When I first saw it I passed it by, as they wanted fifteen dollars for it. However, they were also having 50% off everything - so I snatched it up after making sure it worked. It has two glass bowls and two mixer attachments, not sure how old it is but it is in nice shape and works great. And guess what - my hand-held mixer just died so I'm sure I would have spent at least $7.50 to replace it. Isn't the Lord good to give us the little desires of our hearts? Actually that wasn't such a little desire for me - it was very specific. I've been wanting a KitchenAide mixer for a long time, with the dough attachment - but they are very expensive. So it went on my "wants" list and I would have been content with a hand-held mixer. I think things like this happen to remind us that God cares about every detail of our lives. Now I just need to believe that someday...in His timing....He'll give us a little plot of land with a house and maybe a barn too where I can raise those critters! And I'm not talking about the kids!! ;)
Peachie and I polished up her vintage dresser today (I love vintage finds! and this was given to us, such a blessing!) and so now all she has to do is have Daddy move it to her room and attach the mirror. She was also recently given a Captain's bed with drawers underneath (another blessing! Thank you Lord!!) and so she has plans to re-arrange her room once we are able to pick up the bed.
Peachie and I also went to the thrift store in our little town today as they have a monthly bag sale - all the clothes, shoes, purses, and even toys you can fit into a bag for five bucks. Well, we found enough to stuff the bag full AND I found something that thrills me to my toes because I have been wanting one for a very long time - a KitchenAide mixer with dough attachment!! WOOHOO!!! When I first saw it I passed it by, as they wanted fifteen dollars for it. However, they were also having 50% off everything - so I snatched it up after making sure it worked. It has two glass bowls and two mixer attachments, not sure how old it is but it is in nice shape and works great. And guess what - my hand-held mixer just died so I'm sure I would have spent at least $7.50 to replace it. Isn't the Lord good to give us the little desires of our hearts? Actually that wasn't such a little desire for me - it was very specific. I've been wanting a KitchenAide mixer for a long time, with the dough attachment - but they are very expensive. So it went on my "wants" list and I would have been content with a hand-held mixer. I think things like this happen to remind us that God cares about every detail of our lives. Now I just need to believe that someday...in His timing....He'll give us a little plot of land with a house and maybe a barn too where I can raise those critters! And I'm not talking about the kids!! ;)
Thursday, July 24, 2008
To Blog or Not to Blog
This blog probably reaches a whopping grand total of 3 people, which is fine with me. I write because it is therapeutic for me and I love words. Just ask anyone who tries to talk to me on the phone! Or in person for that matter. You might find yourself fighting to get a word in edgewise when having a conversation with me! I think that is what happens to Moms when they spend the majority of their time with kids. We get with another adult and *poof* - we can't stop talking!
I often wonder with this blog, since I'm not actually conversing with someone, what topics are off-limits? I wrote in a previous blog that "I won't sugar-coat this blog" but unless you live with me 24/7 (I know, scary thought) you are not really going to know what I am truly like. It's funny when people meet me, and because we have a child with a disability, they automatically assume I am this wonderful mother. Hee, hee, hee,hee - I know the truth, neener, neener, neener!! I usually end up telling them that it's not me that is wonderful -it's our Peanut. She's the reason our family has anything unique or special about it.
So, how much can I reveal in a blog? I can tell you what I HOPE I am, what I ASPIRE to become. Or I can be REAL and tell you that we are having a very lazy morning, we all slept in after a late night last night, and I am still in my robe at 11:00 in the morning!!
This weekend we need to get a few projects done around the house, as always, but one additional thing is to work on a couple of dressers we have been given. I need to sand and spray-paint two of the dressers, and I also need to polish up a vintage vanity we were given this week. I'm so excited!! I plan to put it in Peachie's room - it has a large mirror and a small bench as well. I saw a show where they used an instant coffee-stain finish to darken the lighter spots that have worn down on the wood, so I plan to try that. I'll let you know how it turns out. Otherwise I might try a crackle-paint finish, the wood is a veneer so I'm not sure how that would work.
Well, I need to finish my coffee (the coffee pot died this morning, so we boiled coffee on the stove and filtered it - VERY STRONG STUFF!) and of course get dressed. All the daily duties are calling my name. I've been keeping a close eye on Peanut today, she is getting sick and has been in my room all morning. :( Hopefully it is just a cold - but she sounds pretty congested to me. And when she gets sick she is like Kyle - she never goes halfway. She goes down.
So, please say a prayer for Peanut to recover quickly, and I hope you have a good weekend spending time with the ones you love the most.
In His Care ~ Beth ~
I often wonder with this blog, since I'm not actually conversing with someone, what topics are off-limits? I wrote in a previous blog that "I won't sugar-coat this blog" but unless you live with me 24/7 (I know, scary thought) you are not really going to know what I am truly like. It's funny when people meet me, and because we have a child with a disability, they automatically assume I am this wonderful mother. Hee, hee, hee,hee - I know the truth, neener, neener, neener!! I usually end up telling them that it's not me that is wonderful -it's our Peanut. She's the reason our family has anything unique or special about it.
So, how much can I reveal in a blog? I can tell you what I HOPE I am, what I ASPIRE to become. Or I can be REAL and tell you that we are having a very lazy morning, we all slept in after a late night last night, and I am still in my robe at 11:00 in the morning!!
This weekend we need to get a few projects done around the house, as always, but one additional thing is to work on a couple of dressers we have been given. I need to sand and spray-paint two of the dressers, and I also need to polish up a vintage vanity we were given this week. I'm so excited!! I plan to put it in Peachie's room - it has a large mirror and a small bench as well. I saw a show where they used an instant coffee-stain finish to darken the lighter spots that have worn down on the wood, so I plan to try that. I'll let you know how it turns out. Otherwise I might try a crackle-paint finish, the wood is a veneer so I'm not sure how that would work.
Well, I need to finish my coffee (the coffee pot died this morning, so we boiled coffee on the stove and filtered it - VERY STRONG STUFF!) and of course get dressed. All the daily duties are calling my name. I've been keeping a close eye on Peanut today, she is getting sick and has been in my room all morning. :( Hopefully it is just a cold - but she sounds pretty congested to me. And when she gets sick she is like Kyle - she never goes halfway. She goes down.
So, please say a prayer for Peanut to recover quickly, and I hope you have a good weekend spending time with the ones you love the most.
In His Care ~ Beth ~
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Decisions, decisions...
We are facing a couple of important decisions in the next few weeks. As you are all aware, a gallon of gas is a tad expensive these days. (Which makes the price of everything else creep steadily upward.) So, the commute for Kyle to get to work, and for us to go to church and other activities in the F-M area (which we keep to a minimum!) is very expensive. We've been trimming down our budget as much as we can, eating out is almost non-existent, and any "extras" that we don't absolutely need are scratched off our lists. But we are not making ends meet financially. Some months, our "ends" can't even see to wave to each other!!
Anyway, our rental agency recently contacted us and the house that we had hoped to rent last summer in North Moorhead is going to be for rent again this fall. We've been on a waiting list and our name has finally come up again. Our monthly rent would be the same as it is now for the duplex we are renting here in Hawley, so we are prayerfully and seriously considering moving to Moorhead. We are weighing the pros and cons. The biggest "pro" is that we would literally save hundreds a month on gasoline. The biggest "con" is of course that moving is stressful and can be expensive as well. We do love our place here, it really has been ideal for our family, and we love the town of Hawley. If it wasn't for the costly commute we had hoped to eventually buy a house here.
Actually we had not intended to move again until we were ready to buy a house, but that is not looking financially feasible for us at this point. Kyle and I might head to the bank just to discuss home loans and see what we might qualify for (to cover all our bases) but we are not getting our hopes up. I did take a homebuyer's class this spring, with budget counselling, and "on paper" our budget looks pretty good. But when things like car repairs or other expenses come along, we have little or no wiggle room - again, due to the high cost of the commute.
Someday, it's our heart's desire to buy a place in the country, and have a yard and barn full of critters and keep the kids busy from sunup to sundown. For now our homestead is in our hearts and we'll be content with just the dog! And I try my best to keep the kids busy from sunup to sundown, even without the barn full of critters!
We'd appreciate your prayers as we decide what to do. I look around and sigh at the thought of packing again. But there is one good thing about moving - it helps me to get rid of extra stuff! And Punkin already has a rummage sale planned!!
I hope you all are having a lovely weekend. ~ In His Care ~ Beth ~
Anyway, our rental agency recently contacted us and the house that we had hoped to rent last summer in North Moorhead is going to be for rent again this fall. We've been on a waiting list and our name has finally come up again. Our monthly rent would be the same as it is now for the duplex we are renting here in Hawley, so we are prayerfully and seriously considering moving to Moorhead. We are weighing the pros and cons. The biggest "pro" is that we would literally save hundreds a month on gasoline. The biggest "con" is of course that moving is stressful and can be expensive as well. We do love our place here, it really has been ideal for our family, and we love the town of Hawley. If it wasn't for the costly commute we had hoped to eventually buy a house here.
Actually we had not intended to move again until we were ready to buy a house, but that is not looking financially feasible for us at this point. Kyle and I might head to the bank just to discuss home loans and see what we might qualify for (to cover all our bases) but we are not getting our hopes up. I did take a homebuyer's class this spring, with budget counselling, and "on paper" our budget looks pretty good. But when things like car repairs or other expenses come along, we have little or no wiggle room - again, due to the high cost of the commute.
Someday, it's our heart's desire to buy a place in the country, and have a yard and barn full of critters and keep the kids busy from sunup to sundown. For now our homestead is in our hearts and we'll be content with just the dog! And I try my best to keep the kids busy from sunup to sundown, even without the barn full of critters!
We'd appreciate your prayers as we decide what to do. I look around and sigh at the thought of packing again. But there is one good thing about moving - it helps me to get rid of extra stuff! And Punkin already has a rummage sale planned!!
I hope you all are having a lovely weekend. ~ In His Care ~ Beth ~
Friday, July 18, 2008
Family News
Well, it's almost the weekend and I'm sitting here taking a break and drinking an iced coffee I made in the blender. I'm waiting for Peachie to come back from CAP encampment this evening. I've missed her and it's going to be good to have her home again. Initially she was going to stay just through Tuesday but they decided to let her stay a few extra days.
I've got a venison roast in the crockpot for supper with onions, mushrooms, carrots and celery. I'm trying another recipe in the breadmaker, it's been hit and miss with my breadmaker venture. PeeWee seems to like the bread no matter how it turns out though! I'm fascinated with my bread machine. I love to watch it knead the dough, and I love the smell as it rises and bakes. Peaches said, "I love it when you make bread, Mom. It smells like home."
I have not heard from Pickles all week, so I'm assuming that no news is good news. He is probably loving every minute of encampment. He's been enamoured with the military since he was a toddler. He used to hyperventilate when he saw soldiers in uniform. After the flood of '97 when the National Guardsmen were deployed to our area, he looked at them as his heroes. It's his hope to join the Air Force - we'll see what God has in store for him. He needs to grow up first. And even when he grows up I tell him he'll always be his "Mama's a-baby boy!!" (said with an Italian accent, of course! and a pinch on his cheek, which usually elicits an "Oh, Moooommmm!!" from him.)
Well, I need to check on the three little ones who are playing outside and then get some laundry folded. Why do I hate folding laundry? I won't tell you how many loads I have to fold, but it's a lot. I can get them washed and dried - but folding, that is my downfall. So is washing cups and silverware!! I don't mind the pots, pans and dishes - so usually I just have one of the kids finish the cups and silverware! ;)
Have a fabulous weekend ~ Beth ~
I've got a venison roast in the crockpot for supper with onions, mushrooms, carrots and celery. I'm trying another recipe in the breadmaker, it's been hit and miss with my breadmaker venture. PeeWee seems to like the bread no matter how it turns out though! I'm fascinated with my bread machine. I love to watch it knead the dough, and I love the smell as it rises and bakes. Peaches said, "I love it when you make bread, Mom. It smells like home."
I have not heard from Pickles all week, so I'm assuming that no news is good news. He is probably loving every minute of encampment. He's been enamoured with the military since he was a toddler. He used to hyperventilate when he saw soldiers in uniform. After the flood of '97 when the National Guardsmen were deployed to our area, he looked at them as his heroes. It's his hope to join the Air Force - we'll see what God has in store for him. He needs to grow up first. And even when he grows up I tell him he'll always be his "Mama's a-baby boy!!" (said with an Italian accent, of course! and a pinch on his cheek, which usually elicits an "Oh, Moooommmm!!" from him.)
Well, I need to check on the three little ones who are playing outside and then get some laundry folded. Why do I hate folding laundry? I won't tell you how many loads I have to fold, but it's a lot. I can get them washed and dried - but folding, that is my downfall. So is washing cups and silverware!! I don't mind the pots, pans and dishes - so usually I just have one of the kids finish the cups and silverware! ;)
Have a fabulous weekend ~ Beth ~
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Stuff and Nonsense
Well, I tried the homemade laundry soap and I LOVE it. I can make it for pennies a load and it seems to work well. The clothes are getting clean, and they are fresh-smelling. I have read that when using this laundry soap over time your clothes can get dingy. So I'll watch for that and maybe add some Oxy-Clean to the mix, as one person suggested. I do bleach my whites, towels, and some bedding though, so hopefully with the bleach I can avoid the dingies. I also add vinegar to the rinse, to help deodorize and to rinse away any of the soap residue, since it is a powdered formula.
Things 1&2 are at Civil Air Patrol camp this week. It's strange to have them gone. I gotta admit though that I am saving a LOT on groceries this week! And the house has stayed cleaner - so when they come home I'm not going to let them blame all the messes on the little ones any more!! I'm sure after this week they are going to think Mom is a softy compared to their drill sargeants! Actually Alicia is not participating as a cadet - she is assisting a 22-year old Senior member of CAP who is blind. The young woman is quite determined to do all she can in CAP in spite of her disability. She is quite inspiring. I'm really glad our family is getting the opportunity to know her.
I'm still working on organizing and cleaning. Does it never end? One thing I do know, is that we have WAY too many clothes. I really need to go through the kid's wardrobes and get rid of what they don't use, or have outgrown. And that favorite T-shirt that should have been thrown away two months ago - Jessica and Justin are notorious for this. It's funny how we can get attached to things!
I'm hoping today is a productive day and that I'll see significant headway in the basement dungeon, I mean storage area. Most of it can probably be thrown away - considering we have not used it since we moved in here a year ago!! Maybe I should just take it to the landfill since I don't remember what is in most of the boxes anyway!
Things 1&2 are at Civil Air Patrol camp this week. It's strange to have them gone. I gotta admit though that I am saving a LOT on groceries this week! And the house has stayed cleaner - so when they come home I'm not going to let them blame all the messes on the little ones any more!! I'm sure after this week they are going to think Mom is a softy compared to their drill sargeants! Actually Alicia is not participating as a cadet - she is assisting a 22-year old Senior member of CAP who is blind. The young woman is quite determined to do all she can in CAP in spite of her disability. She is quite inspiring. I'm really glad our family is getting the opportunity to know her.
I'm still working on organizing and cleaning. Does it never end? One thing I do know, is that we have WAY too many clothes. I really need to go through the kid's wardrobes and get rid of what they don't use, or have outgrown. And that favorite T-shirt that should have been thrown away two months ago - Jessica and Justin are notorious for this. It's funny how we can get attached to things!
I'm hoping today is a productive day and that I'll see significant headway in the basement dungeon, I mean storage area. Most of it can probably be thrown away - considering we have not used it since we moved in here a year ago!! Maybe I should just take it to the landfill since I don't remember what is in most of the boxes anyway!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Breadmaker, breadmaker, make me a match...
Hello My Pretties,
I've tried several bread recipes in my breadmaker and have yet to find a winner. I plan to try a friend's tried-and-true recipe (I have had her bread before, it is fabulous) but I need to get things like lecithin, gluten and wheat berries. Wow, I'm adding all sorts of words to my vocabulary! Actually I don't know if I'll start out with wheat berries, as the only grinder I have is my hand-crank coffee grinder. All I can think about is Laura Ingalls in "The Long Winter" grinding berries for their (literal) daily loaf of bread during that winter of blizzards and starvation. Next thing you know I'll be making sticks of hay to burn to bake the bread and keep us warm...
Anyhoo if you have a good bread recipe, let me know!! I'm looking for 1.5 to 2 pound loaves of whole wheat bread for the breadmaker.
I tried a really good Italian Pinto Bean recipe today. I like it, and Things 1&2 both like it. The real test will be if the little ones eat it and most of all, if Kyle likes it. We'll have it for supper, along with two loaves of bread that I'm not 100% pleased with, but they're not bad. There's magic to making bread - and I ain't got it, as my Mama would have said. SHE could have made bread, of that I am sure, and she often did in her lifetime. She had all the makings of a domestic goddess. It must have skipped my generation!
Today Thing 1 is mowing at the neighbor's, and Thing 2 is there weeding the garden we planted with them. I guess the lettuce is growing by leaps and bounds. Maybe we'll have some of that with supper too. It's funny but I was a little weirded out by the lettuce when we had our first batch of it. I guess I'm used to it coming in a bag from the produce aisle!! Isn't that terrible?
Things 1&2 are heading to Encampment with Civil Air Patrol this weekend. Thing 1 will be gone from Friday through Tuesday (she assists a Senior Member of CAP who is blind) and Thing 2 will be gone from Saturday through the following Sunday. They are both very excited. It will be an interesting time with the oldest two gone. My three youngest are such busy bees that sometimes I have a tough time keeping up with them. I'm sure I'll be good and tired by the time the oldest two come home!! And next month they have Bible camp!
Well, I'm off to check on the little ones and get some work done. Kyle works late tonight so I need to get a few projects worked on. Like continuing the onslaught of getting through the basement storage!! Where's my timer?!?!
I've tried several bread recipes in my breadmaker and have yet to find a winner. I plan to try a friend's tried-and-true recipe (I have had her bread before, it is fabulous) but I need to get things like lecithin, gluten and wheat berries. Wow, I'm adding all sorts of words to my vocabulary! Actually I don't know if I'll start out with wheat berries, as the only grinder I have is my hand-crank coffee grinder. All I can think about is Laura Ingalls in "The Long Winter" grinding berries for their (literal) daily loaf of bread during that winter of blizzards and starvation. Next thing you know I'll be making sticks of hay to burn to bake the bread and keep us warm...
Anyhoo if you have a good bread recipe, let me know!! I'm looking for 1.5 to 2 pound loaves of whole wheat bread for the breadmaker.
I tried a really good Italian Pinto Bean recipe today. I like it, and Things 1&2 both like it. The real test will be if the little ones eat it and most of all, if Kyle likes it. We'll have it for supper, along with two loaves of bread that I'm not 100% pleased with, but they're not bad. There's magic to making bread - and I ain't got it, as my Mama would have said. SHE could have made bread, of that I am sure, and she often did in her lifetime. She had all the makings of a domestic goddess. It must have skipped my generation!
Today Thing 1 is mowing at the neighbor's, and Thing 2 is there weeding the garden we planted with them. I guess the lettuce is growing by leaps and bounds. Maybe we'll have some of that with supper too. It's funny but I was a little weirded out by the lettuce when we had our first batch of it. I guess I'm used to it coming in a bag from the produce aisle!! Isn't that terrible?
Things 1&2 are heading to Encampment with Civil Air Patrol this weekend. Thing 1 will be gone from Friday through Tuesday (she assists a Senior Member of CAP who is blind) and Thing 2 will be gone from Saturday through the following Sunday. They are both very excited. It will be an interesting time with the oldest two gone. My three youngest are such busy bees that sometimes I have a tough time keeping up with them. I'm sure I'll be good and tired by the time the oldest two come home!! And next month they have Bible camp!
Well, I'm off to check on the little ones and get some work done. Kyle works late tonight so I need to get a few projects worked on. Like continuing the onslaught of getting through the basement storage!! Where's my timer?!?!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Cutting Costs
With prices as high as they are, I've been trying to find ways to trim our budget. I recently found recipes online for homemade laundry soap and fabric softener and I'm going to try those. It sounds like I can make my own for just a few cents a load, and the process is fairly easy. I'll let you know how that goes. I'm also baking our own bread (I have a breadmaker - don't think I've gone all Suzy Homemaker, now) but I need to find a whole-wheat recipe that is a hit with the whole family. Healthy bread is no good if nobody will eat it! My next attempt at cutting costs is to start using up some of the dried beans I have stockpiled. I've found some great-sounding recipes online that have my mouth watering.
Any suggestions, recipes or advice for trimming the budget would be greatly appreciated!
One other thing that our family is seriously praying about is possibly buying a house closer to Moorhead. Our heart's desire is to be in the country, Lord willing. Until that happens though we are in an ideal spot for our family. We have lots of room, live just off a park with a paved trail that goes right by our backyard, and we love the small town we live in. We have considered renting in Moorhead, but rents there are about double what we are paying now. Moving is not only stressful, but it is expensive as well. If it wasn't for the commute, we would not mind staying here indefinitely, or perhaps even buying a house here. I'm glad God knows the outcome of what we should do and where we should go. We'll just have to keep praying and let Him reveal His will to us. In the meantime I'm working on finally getting through those last several boxes we still have packed in the basement. I'm on an organizational streak! Let's hope it lasts!!
Any suggestions, recipes or advice for trimming the budget would be greatly appreciated!
One other thing that our family is seriously praying about is possibly buying a house closer to Moorhead. Our heart's desire is to be in the country, Lord willing. Until that happens though we are in an ideal spot for our family. We have lots of room, live just off a park with a paved trail that goes right by our backyard, and we love the small town we live in. We have considered renting in Moorhead, but rents there are about double what we are paying now. Moving is not only stressful, but it is expensive as well. If it wasn't for the commute, we would not mind staying here indefinitely, or perhaps even buying a house here. I'm glad God knows the outcome of what we should do and where we should go. We'll just have to keep praying and let Him reveal His will to us. In the meantime I'm working on finally getting through those last several boxes we still have packed in the basement. I'm on an organizational streak! Let's hope it lasts!!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Fireworks
I've been trying to think of something interesting, witty and clever to post, but my mind draws a blank. So I decided to just start writing an update on our family.
So far this summer has been good. We are living without air conditioning, which has been tough on a few days. We have a tiny window AC unit in our living room but it's not big enough to make much of a dent in the humidity.
We've gone to Buffalo Park a few times, to the sandy-bottomed pool for swimming. They divert the river water and filter and treat it, so it's great for swimming. The kids have so much fun (so do I!) and it's great exercise. We try to go on weekdays when it is not so busy. Justin starts grinning the moment he gets into the water and his smile is plastered on his face until we leave!
Two nights ago, on the 3rd, I was working on the computer a little after 10:00. The kids and Kyle were all asleep, and I planned to head to bed myself. I started to hear noises outside our window, and realized that someone was shooting off fireworks. Not a big deal, I thought, after all it is almost the fourth. However, in Minnesota any fireworks that leave the ground and explode are illegal. So, I checked outside and realized that our neighbors were deliberately shooting their fireworks AT our house and vehicles! They were exploding right under the windows - which woke up the kids - and I figured it would wake up Kyle next. This did not make me happy, considering he has to wake up in the middle of the night to go to work! So, over an hour later I decided to call the police. Enough was enough, and it was obvious they were trying to hit our windows and cars with their bottle rockets and other fireworks. One of them was the spinning kind, and it went right underneath Kyle's car. Real smart. I have no idea why they decided to aim at our house (and our duplex neighbor's) considering I have not even met them yet. They just moved in across the street a few months ago and other than waving at them a few times, I have not been introduced.
Anyway, the police showed up and he watched them himself for awhile, then walked up and arrested the teenage girl who was in possession of the lighter! I figured he would just give them a warning and take their fireworks away. I walked outside to speak to the officer myself and tell him what had been going on (later I realized this was a mistake - I should have stayed inside so they did not know I had called the police) and the girl let loose with profanity towards me, the policeman, and anyone else within earshot. The officer was not pleased with her language and I heard him tell her she was "going to juvvie" - little did I know this was not the first time this girl has been in trouble.
Afterwards I talked to the policeman, thanked him, and told him they were aiming right at our house and car, it had gone on over an hour, and that I would have tolerated a few fireworks if they had kept them in the vicinity of their own yard. (After all, it is Independence Day!) He said what they were doing was illegal and they were really out of line. Yikes, I felt sorry for him having to deal with the disrespect of that girl and her foul mouth. I almost ran home to get some soap for him to use...
Now I am a little concerned for retaliation on the part of this girl and her family. I guess if we have flat tires some morning I'll know who to thank! Hopefully this girl will go to a place where she can truly get some help and turn her life around. It's obvious she has some serious issues.
Other than that we are all well, we've been enjoying the sunshine and warmth and I'm trying to store some of it up to use this winter, lol!
So far this summer has been good. We are living without air conditioning, which has been tough on a few days. We have a tiny window AC unit in our living room but it's not big enough to make much of a dent in the humidity.
We've gone to Buffalo Park a few times, to the sandy-bottomed pool for swimming. They divert the river water and filter and treat it, so it's great for swimming. The kids have so much fun (so do I!) and it's great exercise. We try to go on weekdays when it is not so busy. Justin starts grinning the moment he gets into the water and his smile is plastered on his face until we leave!
Two nights ago, on the 3rd, I was working on the computer a little after 10:00. The kids and Kyle were all asleep, and I planned to head to bed myself. I started to hear noises outside our window, and realized that someone was shooting off fireworks. Not a big deal, I thought, after all it is almost the fourth. However, in Minnesota any fireworks that leave the ground and explode are illegal. So, I checked outside and realized that our neighbors were deliberately shooting their fireworks AT our house and vehicles! They were exploding right under the windows - which woke up the kids - and I figured it would wake up Kyle next. This did not make me happy, considering he has to wake up in the middle of the night to go to work! So, over an hour later I decided to call the police. Enough was enough, and it was obvious they were trying to hit our windows and cars with their bottle rockets and other fireworks. One of them was the spinning kind, and it went right underneath Kyle's car. Real smart. I have no idea why they decided to aim at our house (and our duplex neighbor's) considering I have not even met them yet. They just moved in across the street a few months ago and other than waving at them a few times, I have not been introduced.
Anyway, the police showed up and he watched them himself for awhile, then walked up and arrested the teenage girl who was in possession of the lighter! I figured he would just give them a warning and take their fireworks away. I walked outside to speak to the officer myself and tell him what had been going on (later I realized this was a mistake - I should have stayed inside so they did not know I had called the police) and the girl let loose with profanity towards me, the policeman, and anyone else within earshot. The officer was not pleased with her language and I heard him tell her she was "going to juvvie" - little did I know this was not the first time this girl has been in trouble.
Afterwards I talked to the policeman, thanked him, and told him they were aiming right at our house and car, it had gone on over an hour, and that I would have tolerated a few fireworks if they had kept them in the vicinity of their own yard. (After all, it is Independence Day!) He said what they were doing was illegal and they were really out of line. Yikes, I felt sorry for him having to deal with the disrespect of that girl and her foul mouth. I almost ran home to get some soap for him to use...
Now I am a little concerned for retaliation on the part of this girl and her family. I guess if we have flat tires some morning I'll know who to thank! Hopefully this girl will go to a place where she can truly get some help and turn her life around. It's obvious she has some serious issues.
Other than that we are all well, we've been enjoying the sunshine and warmth and I'm trying to store some of it up to use this winter, lol!
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