The Simple Woman's Daybook

Good morning!  It is a lazy (rainy and humid) kind of day.  A day in which I seem to lack any real motivation and I'm afraid that will show through in my post today.  Must get up and get a little something done today.

From my window:  I see my hanging ferns swaying in the humid breeze.  I see my front bushes desperately need a trim and I am thankful the rain quit long enough for my dear husband to get the yard mowed last night.  Looks so much better.

I am hearing:  Kip Moore singing "Hey Pretty Girl" and the sound of my clothes dryer (I did do something this morning, ha!)

I am feeling:  A bit lonely.  My baby is sleeping soundly and my big girl is at school.  I miss her terribly after being with her all Summer. My desire was to homeschool her, but she was placed in the classroom of an amazing teacher and I felt best sending her.  So far it's been an amazing year and while I am happy for her, I miss her cute self.

In the kitchen:  The scent from last nights supper still lingers....cabbage with smoked sausage, baked potatoes and hoecakes.  As usual, I have a few dishes in the sink and dishwasher is currently running.  Lunch will be a salad and bacon and tomato sammies.  Supper will be chicken and dumplings. 

In the garden: My garden has passed its prime.  Still currently getting tomatoes, green peppers and harvesting potatoes one hill at a time.  Need to plant some fall crops ASAP.

On the farm:  Livestock are looking good, have two a few chickens setting as we speak and last cutting of hay will be ready soon.  Busy, busy, busy.

Thought for the day:  Children learn from and follow example much better than just getting parental advice.

Plans for the week:  Hubby and I both have dentists appointments, baby girl begins soccer with a meet and greet later in the week.  Actually for us, a very calm week.

For GOD hath not given us a spirit of fear....



This week is VBS week at church and the hubs and I are both teaching.  For those of you just stopping by, let me tell you a bit about the area in which we live.  We live in a town with a population of less than three hundred.  The nearest gas station is seven miles away, the nearest grocery store is 15 miles away and the nearest town with a population above 10,000 is 30 miles away.  We have no geographical draws, no industry, just fields, creeks and churches.  Ironically, within a 10 miles radius we have at least 20 churches.  This setting may or may not seems ideal to you, but it is a piece of heaven here Earth for me!  This week, FIVE local churches are having VBS as well.  We believed our numbers would be down this year.  In fact, we were sure of it.  Many of our "typical helpers" were on vaca or sick, and we weren't worried about it....thought we had it covered.  Guess what?  We were wrong!  Lol.  Last night we had close to 150 kids.  Seriously over half the population of our town! We were floored.  And, thanks to GOD we handled it.  We ran out of food, we exhausted supplies, etc., but nothing that can't be quickly replenished. Many of the children are bused in--they don't belong to any particular church and some have never stepped foot in church.  By all accounts they should be rowdy and somewhat clueless, but these kids are amazing.  They listen, are thankful, participate.  It has been such an amazing experience.  Even more amazing has been seeing our close-knit group of workers step into different roles and excel.  I see confidence and love in people who have NEVER shown such traits before. 

Our theme this year is COLOSSAL COASTER RIDE.  Our verse for the week is 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)  For GOD hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of love, power and of sound mind.  The kids are soaking this up like little sponges.  As parents and adults, we like to hope we can protect our children from the unknowns, the up and downs of life.....the scary roller coaster rides, but unfortunately none of us are exempt.  Only GOD can give us solid footing and provide us with peace and the strength to serve him with boldness...even through adversity.  

Even though I am teaching, I can't help but marvel at what GOD has been teaching me this week.  My best friend has been fighting for her life since Sunday and we still don't know whether she will live or what her quality of life will be life.  I have had to pray REALLY hard to keep from being overwhelmed and fearful.  This week's VBS lesson has helped me so much.  Praise be to GOD! So thankful GOD is working even in areas that seem too futile to demand his attention.  He cares for us all!

Now that June is Almost Over....

I think I will write a post on why this is one of my favorite-ist (babygirl speak) months.  Aside from the month of December, June may very well be our busiest month.  I think I will take y'all on a chronological journey of our typical month.  The first week of June is our first full week of Summer break.  We no longer have to leave the house at 7 every morning and finally get to breath a but....can I say no nightly homework.  Ahhhh, that alone is worth celebrating! On June the 6th, my wonderful brother-in-law celebrates his birthday and my husband celebrates his on the 7th.  Normally we combine a birthday celebration for these two and a good time is had by all.  This celebration is always followed by Father's Day.  Father's Day weekend kicks off our local church camp that lasts a full week.

Our calendar can be a bit hectic, but honestly, it feels like a good kind of busy.  Kentuckians are blessed with wonderful weather in June.  Our temps generally stay in the 70's and 80's and oppressive humidity doesn't kick in until July.  The temperate climate warms local creeks and ponds, fishing gets better and fireflies begin to appear.  In June, I generally harvest beets, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, radishes and the first tomatoes from my garden.  It is pure bliss....Also, I find myself making more sweet tea.  I may have posted this before, but I am going to leave y'all with my fav sweet tea recipe.  The recipe is my beloved mother-in-law's and believe me y'all, she knew her sweet tea!

Easy Microwave Tea (EASY, EASY, EASY!)

I cannot emphasize easy enough here...lol.  My Seven year old has been making this herself for about a year now ;)

2-Luzzianne tea bags (Lipton will work, but I much prefer Luzianne)
6 cups of water (cold)
2/3 to 3/4 cup of superfine sugar ( I like it sweet, so I do 3/4 cup, sugahs)

I use my large 8 cup glass Pyrex measuring bowl and add in my water and sugar, being sure to give it a good stir.  Then, I float my tea bags on the top and microwave for 6-8 minutes.  Allow to set for 5 minutes and give a good stir.  Remove tea bags and enjoy!

Tisk, Tisk

Do you ever feel the need to write and just cannot put anything into words?  I would love to discuss the fact that school is out in 14 days and I still have no child care arrangements for my child; that my back is still hurting after Five months; that I am so upset the morning after pill is available to ages 15 and up now (prescription free); that I no longer believe "once saved, always saved" and so on, yet, as I sit here, nothing is flowing and my mind is a jumble of thoughts.  Perhaps I need caffeine, perhaps I need a nap....who knows?

So, I will leave it short and sweet.  Welcome to the month of May.  May it bring us all many blessings ;)

"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it within us or we will find it not." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Derby Time is Quickly Approaching....

I am not really a Derby lover.  The hubs and I don't party it up, but I realize the importance of accepting/promoting the culture of our State.  Sooo....I have been teaching a Derby unit at work.  Being a Children's Librarian is so much more than helping a child choose an appropriate book.  We are constantly looking for ways to educate while promoting culture and literacy enrichment.  Again, the Derby is not my thing, but.....I will admit that I am enjoying this unit very much.  Yesterday, my homeschool group, did stipple art with an impressionism vibe.  We stippled lovely thoroughbred horses adorned with red rose garlands.  We listened to the University of Ky. chorale sing "My Old Ky. Home" and we created virgin mint juleps.  On Friday, my Toddler group will make jockeys our of leftover Easter eggs and we will continue our horse theme.  Next week, I have a local presenter coming who has miniature horses....:)

Below are a couple ideas for educating children on the Ky. Derby:

~ Read "Gaston Goes to the Kentucky Derby" by James Rice
~Make Jockey Eggs (appropriate for ages 3-8)

~Make virgin mint juleps.  I didn't use any particular recipe.  I used a combo of unsweet tea, mint, ice and powdered sugar.  The kids had fun shaking their own concoction.
~Derby Hat Making Contest!  This can be so fun.  Gather materials such as glitter, ribbon, rhinestones, etc. and use old hats to come up with a unique creation.

My crazy, wonderful, amazing hubby ;)

Don't you just love a husband who is amazing, yet humble.  My hubby is one of those who loves to laugh, is intensely macho, yet has a serious sensitive side.  He isn't really the jealous type but can be fiercely possessive at the same time.  We have such interesting text sessions...lol.  Here is our most recent....

Hubby: The back of my neck is sweating....I hate that crap. 
Me:  What?  Do you feel sick?
Hubby: NO, I think my hormones are changing.....Love you, baby!  (He is making fun of me because at 32, I am entering into perimenapause, and he has been hearing this from me lately).
Me: I love you more, and let it be said that I dig your sarcastic bullcrap.
Hubby: Never forget who rocks your boat! 

Haha!  I love this man.  15 years and going on strong :)

Just Another Manic Monday

Oh. Emmm.  Geeee.  I am finally posting after a ridiculous sabbatical. As I've said in the past, blogging is somewhat therapeutic for me and I need some therapy!  Lol.  On a serious note, depression and anxiety runs in my family on both sides, so I feel like I get a double dose of this illness.  I've really never medicated myself, but I have learned how vital it is to recognize the symptoms of my downward spiral and to take action.  For me, exercise, prayer, music and writing really, really help.  As of late, my typical grumpiness and negativity have returned with a vengeance, so here I sit, forcing myself to make time for something I enjoy.  As busy moms, wives and daughters, we often (always) neglect ourselves, and while are intentions are good, we SUFFER.  This week will be very busy with soccer FOUR nights this week.....ugh.  I work late two nights, have to work in allergy shots and the countless other normal activities.  So, this post will be short and simple ;)

From my window: I see our lovely green grass that my hubby has worked so hard on this Spring. I also see that my windows could use a quick cleaning :)

From my kitchen: Despite two loads of dishes yesterday, my sink runneth over (this is typical for me), otherwise, clean and organized!

I am cooking: Made a big Mexican feast last night and still have some leftovers, but I will stick a huge roast in the oven shortly, and am hoping for at least two meals from this roast.  Will barbeque a portion of it.  Mashed potatoes and green beans will round out tonights meal along with peach cobbler for dessert.

I am reading: Psalm 91 by Peggy Joyce Ruth and the book of Ezekial.

I am listening to:  The sound of a John Deere tractor in the field across from our home. A boom sprayer is attached to the back...not sure what they are spraying, but am thankful the wind isn't up and blowing the spray our way.

I am watching: Just finished up Tyler Perry's "Good Deeds". Very good movie!

I am thinking: How much I miss my family on Monday's and how much I dread going to work tomorrow.

Be blessed! Our weather is going to be fantastic this week and I pray for the same for all my readers :)