Tea Break and New Post

It's been one of those days where I'm getting a lot done and I would think that the time is flying by, but it's been one of those days where I'm getting a lot done, but time has slowed down!  I look at the clock right now and I'm a little giddy that I still have a couple more hours of afternoon left.  : )

It's been a fine day so far:

*A load of laundry done and put away

*Potato salad made for tonight's meal (recipe to follow) - I boiled the eggs and the potatoes yesterday so this morning was just chopping up the rest of the vegetables, making the sauce, mixing it together, and that's it!

*Light cleaning of the bathroom

*Went to a "cooking class" via my dining table.  I had posted earlier that I'm into the freezer meals right now, so I brought up a couple of on-line videos, streamed them to our TV set (do they call it a set anymore?), brought out my notebook and pencil, watched and wrote down about 6 meals that I'm going to give a try this upcoming month.  I love the concept of dumping everything into a freezer bag, thaw it out the night before, and pour it into a crockpot and let it cook all day.  Especially these summer days when I feel like being outside.  I'll let you know what we think of the recipes and will post them for you.

*After resting a bit after lunch, I went outside to pull another area of weeds along the back fence.  Right before lunch, it rain really hard for a while (thank you Lord!) so it made light work of the pulling!

*Just finished a refreshing shower, poured a cup of tea and now I'm talking to you.  : )

Tonight we are having game night with a family friend and she will be joining us for supper as well which is:

*Brats on the grill w/toasted buns

*Potato salad

*Fresh blueberries w/yogurt

*Leftover ice cream cake from the birthday (it was a rather large "cake") for dessert

Here is the recipe for my Potato Salad - I've been making this for over 35 years now and everyone loves it - I think I've posted this before but it's worth repeating:

4 c. cooked pared potatoes, cut in chunks (I use Yukon Gold or Red - also, I always cook my potatoes in the skins and keep them whole and then the next day I pare them and cut them into chunks)

1 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/2 c. sliced green onions (w/tops)

2/3 c. finely chopped celery

Mix these in a large bowl.

Stir together:

1 c. salad dressing (Miracle Whip type)

1 Tbsp. prepared mustard (or just a tad more)

Pour over potato mixture and toss lightly.

Carefully fold in:

4 hard-cooked eggs (I use just 3, and slice the 4th over the top)

Sprinkle with a little paprika for pretty color if you'd like.

Enjoy!

I think it's the mustard in the sauce and all the eggs that make this taste so good.  Let me know what you think!  : )

Well, that is it for this day.  Since I have some time left, I'm going to bring a project out to work on until it gets closer to the supper hour.  Enjoy the rest of this day.  Thanks for dropping by - you are ALWAYS welcome.  : )

A Special Day

I'm posting early because we have a special day going on.  Our one and only is turning 27 today.  What?!  How in the world did that happen?  Didn't we just bring him home from the hospital?  Twenty-seven years have gone by SO fast.  But how blessed we are.  : ) We have our family traditions for birthdays and here a just a few:

*Hang up "Happy Birthday" signs up everywhere.  We just think of everywhere this person will go or look at and a sign will be there.  (closets, drawers, cupboards, dashboard of the car, etc.)

*Ask the b-day person for a favorite home-cooked meal or favorite restaurant and carry it out.  Tonight will be a restaurant meal. 

*Ask the b-day person for a favorite dessert. Ours is a DQ cookie dough ice cream cake.

*Be thoughtful about gifts.  We don't go overboard but we do try to ask what the person would like or need.

We're all looking forward to celebrating.  : )

So far today I've:

*Paid the bills

*Wrote out the grocery list/menu

*Washed the soaking whites from yesterday

What I need to do yet:

*Iron

*Weed the backyard

*Clean the basement

*Make homemade deodorant

Our Menu for the week looks like this:

*Tonight - Birthday supper out

*Wednesday -  Homemade Italian hamburger helper, green beans, fresh fruit

*Thursday - Grilled brats, potato salad, chips, fruit

*Friday - Baked cod, rice pilaf, salad

*Saturday - Take-out after afternoon visiting

*Sunday - (this is my birthday) Shrimp boil in which you boil potatoes, corn, and shrimp all in one big pot, served with fresh fruit and then I'm baking yellow cupcakes with chocolate frosting

*Monday (Independence Day!) - Beef and Chicken fondue served with steak sauce, pickles, garlic toast, baked potatoes with lots of butter, sour cream, and cheese, and then ice cream buffet with lots of toppings

*Tuesday - Leftovers!!!!!  : )

I need to make:

*the cupcakes

*the Hamburger Helper mix

*cookies for the freezer

And I really want to plan some freezer meals.  I've been watching on-line all kinds of shows about how to just drop everything into a gallon size freezer bag and freeze until you need them.  So I just need to get organize myself with this one.

There you have it!  A fun, full day so far and so much more to do.  : )  I hope every one of you can enjoy your home today.  Thanks for dropping by!

Very Productive

Every morning during prayer time, I pray for strength, energy, and motivation to get my daily work done.  Well, my goodness, that request was certainly answered today!  : )

I'm not sure if it was because our weather is GORGEOUS, or I feel so much better this week than I did last week, or a combination of both, but I felt like doing EVERYTHING.  

It all started in the kitchen:

*I cleaned up the breakfast dishes.

*I then noticed the windows need cleaning.

*Then I washed the threshold of the door frame and even stained the wooden part to better match our kitchen floor.

*I swept the back step and brushed off cobwebs.

*I tweaked several things on what little countertop space I have.

*I mopped the floor and washed the rugs.

All the while, I'm doing laundry:

*Hung up all the sheets and towels because we have the perfect temperature with a nice drying breeze.

*Washed more rugs.

*Soaked all the whites for tomorrow's washing.

Cleaned the bathroom:

*Toilet, vanity, tub.

*Mopped the floor.

*Clean under the vanity and put new paper down on the bottom.

Cleaned the bedrooms:

*Put those sweet smelling sheets back on and then sprayed them with the lavender linen spray.

*Dusted and vacuumed.

And, now, I just got in from pulling weeds and watering plants in our front yard.  I took a little tea break before blogging and will soon go back into the kitchen to start supper which will be:

*Ravioli Casserole (Meatless Monday)

*Steamed broccoli 

*Watermelon slices

It feels marvelous.  I love days that are industrious.  It's a great feeling to crawl into bed at night and look back upon the day and feel like a lot got done.

I have a little story about cleaning the kitchen windows - when I cleaned the outside of the windows, there was a beautiful dragonfly attached to the side of  the house.  When I sprayed the windows there was a breeze blowing and a little got on him (which I didn't even think about).  Well, I saw him take one of his long legs and actually wipe the side of his face.  : )  It was very cute.  

I think that's about it for today.  If I sit here too long, that motivation might be sneaky and try to leave.  So, I'd better keep moving.  The relaxation can kick in after supper when all the dishes are washed.

I hope you have enjoyed this day.   Your work at home is important!  God bless you in your efforts.

Thinking Things Through

I don't purposely watch or listen to the news.  But it's surprising that I always manage to get just enough to keep abreast as to what is happening around the world and in our country as well.  We all can see that things have changed, are changing, and will continue to change as time goes by.   By things I mean morals, values, manners, behaviors, a sense of right and wrong.  And there are so many emotions that go along with all of this - anger, frustration, hopelessness, fear, worry, anxiety, confusion just to list a few.  But I have to keep reminding myself that everything that is happening in the world is happening for a reason.  The Bible tells us that things are going to progressively get worse and we are not to be surprised by this.  So how do we live today?

*First, if you haven't given your life to Christ, there is no better time than right now.  He is the only way to God our Father.  

*Trust Him in absolutely EVERYTHING.

*Read the Word of God for insight.  It's the instruction manual for this life that we all wish we had.  We do!  : )

*Pray with all kinds of petitions, prayers, and requests.  Pray for God's will to be done in your life and in the lives of others.

*Bring others to Christ.

*Live the way God wants us live.  Again, that will be found in the Bible.  God doesn't expect perfection, but He does expect obedience.  

*Understand that God is in control of EVERYTHING that is happening.

*Fear not.  Be prepared as the Bible tells us to be prepared.  But, fear not.

There was a saying I heard a long time ago - "If you look within, you'll be distressed, if you look around, you'll be depressed, but if you look up, you'll be blessed."

Look up today.  God is Emmanuel (God with us).  For those of us who are in Christ Jesus, he promises to never leave us nor forsake us.  Who wouldn't want that?!  Have a blessed Sabbath day.

Friday Evening

Yesterday was such a nice day.  I started very early in the morning to get the necessary chores done so that I could do a couple of fun things:

I baked banana nut muffins.  They smell so good in the oven.  Tastes great and very moist.  I hope you can give them a try.

Then:

I'm getting SO much enjoyment in crocheting this rug.  I'm excited about finding the directions to do this because, even though I don't know the crocheting "language", I do know the basics so it's such a relaxing thing to do.  I'm having a hard time putting it down.  : )

In the afternoon yesterday I met with my friend, Violet, for coffee.  It is then that we try to solve the world's problems (LOL) by talking them through but, unfortunately, the time flies by so we have to stop before we resolve anything.  : )

And then after supper, we had Bible study with friends.  It really was a nice day.

Today was a different day.  There were a few plans made that ended up not happening, and then a surprise lunch out and shopping.  Back home I ironed the week's laundry, made laundry detergent, dryer sheet spray, and my homemade shampoo.  And then back to crocheting!  I'm hooked (no pun intended).

Now it is evening again.  The soft evening light filters through the curtains and the robins sing their evening song.  I will leave a last photo that I hope makes you smile -

Actually, I'm surprised he makes ME smile as he and his band of bunnies are eating everything in sight!  But he's cute.  And cute makes me smile.  : )

I hope you have a wonderful upcoming weekend.  Remember to open your Bible and read God's Word.  Pray for our country.  Take care of your family.  Take care of yourselves.  Find something to do that you enjoy.  Thanks for dropping by!

Wednesday Evening

It was warmer today and this evening is quite humid with a chance of storms.  We really need the rain (but not the severe stuff).  All the plantings are doing so well and the grass needs a good mowing twice a week.  The bunnies are contented to sit in the grass and eat away.  The squirrels continue to chase each other.  And the birds sing, sing, sing.  A little wildlife refuge in our backyard. 

I went grocery shopping this morning and got the food we need for the upcoming week.  It never fails to amaze me as to how much we have to choose from.  

I did a load of laundry just to keep up and cleaned the bathroom.  Still not a lot of energy in me, so that took care of the morning hours.

After cleaning up after lunch and resting a bit, I brought out all the scraps of fabric I have and began the task of cutting squares out of them for a possible quilt.

I'm not a real quilter but I do like making the rag quilts, so that is my plan.  These scraps look at me every time I go into my sewing area just shouting "please do SOMETHING - ANYTHING with us!"  I just couldn't ignore it any longer.  : )

While cutting the squares out, I watched on-line how to crochet a rug (again).  If you remember, I was trying to crochet a round rug a while back.  Well, I'm crochet-challenged and needed something a bit simpler.  I found it.  It's a rug that you crochet as just a regular old rectangle.  Just go back and forth.  No increasing and remembering where I left off and all of that.  So, I'm glad I didn't get rid of the cloth "yarn" that I had and now I can't wait to start all over again.  It's a nice project when you just want to pick something up and work on it while watching a video or something.  Do they still call them video's?  Oh, and I'm also technology-challenged.  : o

Well, once again, another day is almost over.  The time goes so quickly.  I hope you have enjoyed your day.  Are you working on any fun projects?

Beautiful Days

The past couple of days have been just beautiful.  After a 95-degree Sunday, these days are blessings.  : )  Warm but not hot and not humid with a breeze blowing.  

The pictures I post are usually "vacation" pictures.  We live in a suburb. There isn't much beauty in a suburb.  So, "vacation" pictures are a LOT more pleasant to look at.  I know I've said this before, but what a wonderful invention the camera was!  Almost every picture I look at, I can remember the day and how it felt. Wonderful.  : )

I have been a little under the weather lately.  Not much energy, tired, and some arthritic pain so I haven't been doing a lot.  Just keeping up with the necessary things.

I managed a menu:

Tonight:  Chicken Noodle Soup, toasted bagels w/jam, grapes

Wednesday:  Quesadillas, chips & salsa, melon slices

Thursday:  Baked ham, sweet potatoes, stir-fried green beans

Friday:  Peel n' Eat shrimp, rice pilaf, brocolli

Saturday:  Leftovers night and then take dessert to father-in-law in the evening

Sunday:  Pork Roast w/potatoes and carrots, berries with yogurt on top

Monday:  Ravioli, toasted garlic bread, jello

Tuesday:  Out for a birthday supper!!!  Then back for a birthday dessert (which is yet to be determined)

That is about it! 

Before I leave, I wanted to share something from my Bible reading this morning.  It is from Judges, Chapter 8 verse 23 - "...Gideon told them, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you.  The Lord will rule over you."  (Just sayin')  : )

Continue in prayer for our country!!!!  Thanks for dropping by.

Happy Father's Day

It was a nice day.  Minus brother-in-law, it still was a nice day.  A small group which is sometimes good.  Conversation flows a bit better with a small group.  Good food, nice cards and gifts exchanged, a few laughs to lighten the mood.

Everyone is gone now, the leftovers are put away, the dishes are washed and dried, and now my husband is sleeping on the couch.  : )  Sometimes it's nice to sit in the quiet after everyone leaves and you can still hear people's voices and laughter. That's what home is.  Yesterday after visiting father-in-law we came home thinking that at his age and with his dementia we don't create memories for him anymore - we create moments.  By tomorrow morning he will have forgotten most of what happened today.  It's sad, but that's just the way it is and we work with it.

I know that today, for many people, can be a difficult time.  Fathers that weren't what they were supposed to be in our lives.  Or they were everything they were suppose to be but are now gone and we miss them.  Or they have grown old and changed.   I look back at my own dad and how I use to have such a hard time reconciling the past, but as Christ changes me through the years, that difficult time is less and less.  I'm really grateful about that. 

In church this morning, the song "How Great Thou Art" was sung.  If ever there were a more truer title to a song!  He IS Great.  Let your soul sing that over and over today and throughout the week.  : )

It's Summer!

Whew.  It's going to be hot and humid again today, but especially tomorrow.  I was kind of hoping for Father's Day to be a day of eating outdoors but that would be too uncomfortable.   VERY thankful for air conditioning!

Every year for a while now, Father's Day gifts have been very simple but well received.  As we all know, men love to eat.  They love their snacks.  So what I have been doing is filling a bag with munchies (chips, nuts, chocolate bars, jerky, etc.) and then adding "DAD'S" old-fashioned root beer.  It's just a little something without going overboard.  : )  

Again, the Father's Day menu will be:

Broasted and Fried Chicken from our local deli 

Baby Back Ribs

Baked potatoes with shredded cheese, sour cream, and green onions

Lettuce salad with tomatoes and cucumbers and a variety of salad dressings

Bread and butter pickles

Lemonade and variety of soda pop

Simple cookie tray for dessert with coffee and tea

Most of my work will be indoors today:

*clean the house for tomorrow - dust, vacuum, kitchen, bathroom

*some food prep for tomorrow - take things out of freezer, chop things and put them into containers, etc.

*set the tables

*if I feel brave, go and pull a few weeds 

*after tomorrow's work is done, I have greeting cards to work on in my craft space

*visit father-in-law with a little dessert towards evening

That will pretty much be my day.  I'm looking forward to it.  : )

Brother-in-law is still in ICU but improving.  We're hoping he will get a room next week and then begin the long recovery.   

I hope each of you has a good day today and a wonderful upcoming weekend.  God bless you and thanks for stopping by.  

Prayer Rally

We were blessed to be a part of Franklin Graham's Decision America Tour at our State Capitol today.  Hundreds of fellow Christians coming together singing praises to our God, holding our flags high and praying for God's grace and mercy to be upon us.  We need to be heard.  There is still a remnant of us in this land who can cry out to the Lord in great need and be heard.

There are many states in which this tour is being held and, if you can, I urge you to be there.  There is nothing like standing shoulder to shoulder with other men, women, and children, young and old alike, asking for God's blessing.  Because - "The Lord was moved by prayer for the land"... (2 Samuel 24:25).

In our own homes we can pray:

*for each of us as individuals that we would be strong, courageous, bold, wise

*for our families that we would stay together and be a light to others

*for our communities that Christians would begin to take an active part and try to defeat secularism 

*for our State that God would pour out His Holy Spirit upon those who are in office and make decisions

*for our Country that God would change the hearts, minds, and souls of those who are in office

*for our military that God would protect and defend those who protect and defend us

*for our policemen and women that again, God would protect them as they continue to try to bring order in our society

It really is time for Christians to stop being quiet in things that are going on.  Now is the time to be bold and courageous and start stepping up and letting our voice be heard.  That we will not put up with taking God out of everything.  This still IS "one nation under God." 

Please pray!!!!

Wednesday Evening

It was a nice day.  My husband is home all this week so we've been sleeping in (which can be anywhere from 1 to 2 hours longer than when we get up during the workweek - which means it will be quite the shock next week to get up in the wee morning hours again!).  But we'll enjoy it while it lasts.  

The day started with the weekly grocery shopping trip.  It was pretty major this week so I'm glad I had a helper.  As we went up and down the aisles, we couldn't even imagine that those jam-packed shelves of food could be empty if a crisis hit here in the United States.  It's happening in places all over the world and I think it would be silly for us to think it couldn't happen here.  I would highly recommend, once again, that everyone begin to think about stocking a pantry with necessity items - toilet paper, LOTS of water, etc.  If nothing happens, great!  Then you'll have items to share, but if something does happen, then you can relax in your home while everyone else is panicking at the store trying to find things.

After putting everything away, we had our lunch and then rested for about a half an hour.  I then when into the kitchen to bake my lemon cookies and chewy brownie cookies (yum) to put into the freezer until Sunday for the Father's Day cookie tray.  Of course we all had to sample a few just to see if they were good enough.  ; )  

Went out on another errand late in the afternoon and a nice surprise of take-out pizza. A no-cook night!  Yeah!  And that leads me to this post.  So, again, not a wow day, but things that needed doing and now it is done.  The evening ahead of us.  I think I will take a magazine and sit outside for awhile with a cool breeze blowing, bunnies eating the grass, and the happy birds singing.

Thank you for stopping by - I really appreciate it.  How did you spend your day today? 

Just Keeping Up

Well, with brother-in-law still in ICU, the whole week has felt like we should be ready for anything.  Getting things done, but always a feeling in the back of our minds to be ready for changes.  It really is unsettling.  Fortunately, today seems to be better for him and the weighty-ness of it all is a little lighter.  Having a team of pray-ers helps!  I believe that with all my heart.  : )

It is getting quite stormy with watches and warnings all around us.  I hear the thunder off in the distance and the rain has started for the second time today.  A rainy evening.  Kind of cozy.

I had a meal planned for tonight but looked in the fridge and noticed, once again, that I had a couple of things that should be used up (green beans from last nights meal and beef broth from a few days ago) so I am making our favorite vegetable beef soup.  It's NOT soup weather, but with the air conditioning on and the darkening skies we can feel like it is.  : )

Really I am just keeping up with daily chores so far - laundry, ironing, paying the bills, writing out a menu/grocery list, light housecleaning, etc.  so not a lot to blog about.  The menu for the upcoming week consists of:

*tonight - vegetable soup, bread and butter, fresh fruit

*Wednesday - Ravioli casserole, salad, fruit

*Thursday - Soft tacos (which was suppose to be for tonight's Taco Tuesday), chips and salsa, fresh fruit

*Friday - Fish fillets, mac & cheese, steamed broccoli

*Saturday - leftovers night - take dessert to father-in-law

*Sunday - Father's Day!  (have you made your plans yet?)  We are a VERY small group this year but even though there is a lot going on we decided to still get together.  We are having chicken and ribs, baked potatoes with the fixins', lettuce and tomato salad, and a platter of homemade cookies with lemonade and coffee

*Monday - Egg and cheese bagel sandwiches, chips, fresh fruit

*Tuesday - Chicken Quesadillas, chips and salsa, fresh fruit

Making: the BEST lemon cookies : ) and the BEST fudgy chocolate chip cookies for Sunday : )  

That is about it from here.  Hope you have a wonderful evening.  Thanks for dropping by!

Sunday Morning

Trials.  Something we have gone through.  Something we are going through. Something we will go through.  100% of us.  No one goes through this life without experiencing trials.

Another favorite verse of mine is from James 1:5 - "If any one of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to him without finding fault, and it will given to him."  I think it's very important during our prayer time with God that we ask for wisdom to handle the trials of our life.  The wisdom we receive from God can be such a wonderful testimony to others we cross paths with.  They can see in us how we handle things when we're going through the tough times.  On our own (without God's wisdom) we might not act or react in a way that would bring others to Christ.

I pray that whether you are experiencing a time of great blessing or are experiencing a time of trial that you would constantly put God first.  Keep praising Him, keep thanking Him, and keep asking Him for help.

Have a blessed Sabbath.

Really Hot, Really Humid

Whew.  It is U-G-L-Y outside.  : o    SO thankful for air conditioning.  I don't know how we handled days like this when growing up.  We didn't have air conditioning, but then I don't remember humidity either.  I grew up in South Dakota where it was hot and windy a lot of the time, but I honestly don't remember humidity.  I went outside today only to water a few plants but that has been it. I just don't handle it well at all.  

Today:

*had bananas that were very ripe so I made a banana cake for the freezer

*did a couple loads of laundry just to keep caught up

*ironed our cloth napkins

*vacuumed and dusted

This afternoon:

*blogging : )

*need to clean the bathroom

*get to some crafting/sewing to satisfy that creative nudge

Supper will be:

*Baked Tilapia

*Rice Pilaf

*Fresh fruit cups

This summer I am reading:

*for after lunch - "The Keeper of the Bees" by Gene Stratton-Porter

*before bed - "Middlemarch" by George Eliot (for those who might not know this, George Eliot is a woman - she wrote back in the 1800's when publishers thought that she should change her name to make it sound like a man wrote the books)

I recommend both books as good summer reads.  "Middlemarch" is very interesting with a lot of characters.  It's a long book so it's going to take the whole summer to get through it!  And I've read "The Keeper of the Bees" a couple of times already, but it's a great summertime book.  

Here are some pictures I wanted to share with you:

making patterns for the bowl covers

cut them out with a pinking shears

sew thin elastic on the wrong side and pulling tight while you sew

and this is what it looks like off the bowl

and this is what they look like on the bowl(s).

It really is a fun project.  : )

And here are the Father's Day cards:

On some of them, I just cut out pictures from old vacation brochures and then for the others I found some old vacation pictures that I was willing to give up.

Another fun project.  : )

That is about it for today's post.  I hope you are enjoying this day.  Thanks, once again, for dropping by.  God bless.

Thursday Afternoon

It's been a week of concern over a brother-in-law who went through triple bypass surgery and a valve replacement.  We had a scare last night and now it's a wait and see which is very difficult.  We've been talking about how quickly things can change.  One moment everything is looking pretty good and then .... not good at all.  We keep wondering how people, who have no faith in God, can go through these trials.  Because anyone who lives this life is sure to encounter a trial.  No wonder Jesus wanted to be sure to say that in this world there will be trouble but then on the heels of that statement He says to have courage because He has overcome the world.  THAT is something to hold on to.  

Here at home, it's been a pretty typical week on trying to get to the things that need attending to:

Laundry/ironing

Light housekeeping/cleaning

Finished the Father's Day cards

Baked chocolate chip cookies 

The weekly grocery shopping and menu planning

Made a set of fabric bowl covers (hopefully will get a picture of them soon)

We woke up to heavy rain and thunder and lightning early this morning and now it's very humid (and suppose to get worse), warm (and it's suppose to get hot).  It's good for the grass and all the plantings and find myself already getting behind with the weeds.  So every time I go outdoors even if it's to throw something in the trash, I will go over to a little patch and start pulling until that little patch is done then go back in. Like I used to say - doing SOMETHING is better than doing nothing.

Tonight's supper is:

Pan-fried hamburgers on toasted buns

Baked potatoes with butter and sour cream

Corn

Fresh fruit (orange slices)

That's about all I have for today.  Thank you for dropping by.

Start At The Beginning

I think I've written about this before, but I go along for quite a while with my lists of things that I need/want to get done and then all of a sudden, out of the blue, I like to change things up just for something different.  That has been this week so far.

So, instead of going to my notebook to see which room I go to this week, I just start at the beginning.  Literally.  I go, first, to the front door of our home.  (Actually, I go OUT the front door of our home):

*How does the little porch look?  Does it need a good sweeping?  Does it need to be hosed down?  Are there flowers that need to be dead-headed or re-potted or just a good watering?  Look up.  Are there spider webs that need to be swept away?

*Now go indoors.  Does your front entry-way rug need washing?  How about the floor?  Are there any paint touch-ups that need to be done on the front door?  How can you pretty the front foyer up?  Flowers?  Mirror?  Pretty painting?

*Now move around the room.  How long has it been since you washed the curtains or cleaned the draperies?  Do your windows need a good washing?  How about the baseboards?  Again, any paint touch-ups?

*And so on............work around each room in this manner, always beginning at the door.  

The other thing that is very helpful to me is to have a pad of paper and pencil close by to write things down that I notice.  For example, this morning I knew that I couldn't get to certain things because of time constraints, but I did notice that it's been a while since I've vacuumed the lampshades.  So, I wrote it down.  These little jobs can then be done when I have a few minutes to spare some day.  Some jobs that I write down will need to have an hour or two in order to get them done, others only 10-15 minutes.  So, that satisfies my love of lists! : )  

If you're kind of stuck when it comes to housework and growing a little weary of the day-to-day routine, I hope you can try this method.  The only thing to be aware of is (and I'm sure you don't need me to say this) it's important to keep up with the other homemaking duties.  Laundry still needs to be done and there are other rooms that you haven't gotten to yet using this method that needs to be kept up such as the bathroom and kitchen.  But it's good for those times, like right now for me, when I just need to do things differently.  

Thank you for dropping by.  You are ALWAYS welcome.   : )

Finding Your Life Verse

From the time I was in high school and through my 20's, my life was one mistake after another.  The choices I made hurt me (and others) deeply and I was left with guilt and shame and honestly could not see a way out.  After my second marriage and then the birth of my child, I felt the Lord pulling me towards Him (even though I did not know that at the time).  I KNEW then that there was something more to life.  Something that was honest and real and good and life changing.

No one ever invited me to a Bible study, but I knew that I had to get into one.  I didn't grow up ignorant of the Bible.  I went to church all through my growing up years and then on and off again after that.  The Bible was something that was difficult for me to understand.  And church just became something you did because, well, I guess you should.  But when I felt that life was starting over with a new husband and a new baby, I checked into a Bible study with a five-year plan and they started with the Book of John.  Oh my goodness.  I sat up front with Bible opened, notebook and pen ready and hung on every word that was being taught.  My eyes were being opened to the fact that THIS is what I needed in order to make sense of my life.

I gave my life to Christ because of that Bible study and ever since He has become my Lord and Savior and Healer of the past.  It was then that, while I was reading the verses given for our next study that I came across a verse in the Old Testament that jumped out at me and spoke to my guilt-ridden heart.  It is in the Book of Joel, Chapter 2, verse 25 - "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten..."

For, you see, up until that point I felt that all the mistakes I've made would always haunt me and I would always feel shame.  But this verse (which still makes me cry) told me that God will give me a new life.  Those years were eaten up by not-so-good things, like a crop is eaten up by locusts.  But now, I could have a new life in Christ and he will redeem me.  I no longer have to look at the barren field of the past.  I can look at a field with the promise of growing and thriving.  He will give me new purpose and new chances.

The Lord is so good in rebuilding lives and restoring what was lost.  If you are having a difficult time in coming to terms with your past (or even the present) and feel that there is no hope, we have a God who can change all of that.  I'm an example of that.  If you know of someone who is living a life that you know they shouldn't be living, pray for them.  Pray that God would be the hound of heaven for them and that he would pour out His Holy Spirit on that person so that they would be drawn to Him.  It IS possible.

So, while you are reading your Bible, and you haven't really thought of claiming a life verse for yourself, I would highly recommend it.  A verse that carries you through until you breathe your last breath.  A verse to hold on to.  A verse that speaks life to you.  A promise from the Lord our God.  And He ALWAYS keeps His promises.  : )

I hope you enjoy this Sabbath Day.  Here it is sunny and breezy with beautiful blue skies that yesterday's rains cleaned out for us.  God bless you in every aspect of your life today.  

Days To Glory In

The above post title is something I heard a character (Martha Corine) on "The Walton's" say while she was visiting them and it just stuck with me because I love the phrase.  These are days to glory in. The past couple of days have been just beautiful weather days.  Warm with a cool breeze and blue skies.  I'm getting so much done outside that I find myself just thanking the Lord for such an opportunity.  To be down on my knees and cleaning out an area of weeds and putting new plantings in and reorganizing rocks and pebbles to make it look pretty again.  It's almost like being an artist.  The ground is the canvas and everything else is what you use to create the effect.  Once you achieve the effect, there is a satisfaction.  I like it because it's not easy work.  It's sometimes an all-day work and I can feel it in my back and in my legs and in my arms.  But, it's an oh-so-good feeling.  Now, for today, it's rain.  Perfect timing.  I love a rainy day too.  : )

It's been a good week.  Nothing that jumps out as being out of the ordinary, but just one of those weeks where the time is yours and you feel like you've used it well.

*I've been cleaning in areas that haven't been cleaned in a while - which always give me the opportunity to once again take a good look at what I'm cleaning and ask the question of do we still want or need this.  Weeding out is always a good thing.  

*I've been trying to plan meals around all the good fruits and vegetables that are out there right now.  

*I've been keeping up with the small stuff - laundry, ironing, vacuuming, etc. -because the small stuff can become the big projects if left too long.

*I've been trying to do the things that I could easily procrastinate on telling myself that if I just do it, it'll be done, and I don't have to think about it anymore.  It's hard when I'm tired and would rather just sit and read a magazine.  : )

*I've been working on Father's Day cards.  My dad is gone now, but I give them to all my brothers and brothers-in-law and, of course, father-in-law.  They don't take as long as for the ladies in the family. The ladies get all the lace and ribbon and flowers.  The men get pictures of deer, or vintage cars, or farm equipment.  : )

Tonight we are expecting overnight company (my sister and her husband).  We don't get out-of-town guests so it'll be nice for a change.  They won't be here in time for supper, but our breakfast in the morning will be:

*assorted sweet rolls and muffins

*assorted fruits

*assorted juices

*hard boiled eggs

*yogurt

*milk

*coffee

I guess it will be like a bed and breakfast!

I know it's been a while since my last post, but I'm now typing on a new computer. The old one just couldn't go any longer.  : o

I hope this finds all of you well and motivated to take care of the home you have. Whether you live in a condo, an apartment, a house, a townhouse, a farmhouse - it is home.  It's where you take care of yourself and your family.  It's important work. Thank you so much for stopping by.  I appreciate it.  If you've noticed that I don't receive comments, I do welcome them.  I'd love to know what you do in your homes that you can pass along to me as well.  God bless you!