Tuesday, December 23, 2014

merry christmas!


i think i'm gonna need a bigger sofa


i've got big plans to start blogging with meaning in the new year.  i really miss it!

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

holy moly its december!

it's december.

what!!!!!??????

ok, calm down.  its just december.  just the beginning of winter. really,
except we've already had approximately 32 inches of snow so far in 3 significant  storms.

i'm online quite a bit but its mostly pinterest.  you see....i'm kind of an addict!  i'm addicted to pinning and doing.  oh well.

i'm also addicted to five little boys, and most of those pins are things for them.  i just made peppermint play doh!!!  yeah.

so thats why i don't blog so much.  i really want to, i'm just all over the place and scattered in my thoughts.  so i can't seem to get anything out.

i'm going to shoot for the new year.  i'm gonna make a plan.

yeah.

we'll see!

Saturday, October 18, 2014

on being a weirdo

i love autumn.  i hate autumn. the colors, the leaves falling and skipping across the yard. pumpkins make me smile, and apples.  who doesn't love apples?!!!!

...............then there is halloween.  i dread the couple of weeks leading up to it.  halloween,  is an example of seemingly harmless herd mentality.

most of us were raised with participation in halloween activities being the norm.  everyone did it.  if you didn't, then you were some religious, kill-joy weirdo.

.......guess what?

i became that weirdo.

midway through my childrens childhood i became convicted about halloween having absolutely NO redeeming qualities.  i became convicted that i was doing the wrong thing by allowing or encouraging my family to participate in such a dark holiday.

so.......i pulled the plug.  it wasn't easy, but my kids respected my parental authority and knew that i always had their best interest at heart.  besides, they just wanted candy.  and candy may be bad for your body, but it's not bad for your soul!

like i said, i love fall!  i love celebrating the harvest, the glorious colors, and the last hurrah before we go into winter.  apple picking, corn mazes, hayrides to the pumpkin patch--all okay!

however, halloween somewhat mars it for me.  everywhere i turn i am bombarded by the images that represent halloween.  the scary, dark images:  graves, skeletons, witches, severed body parts, etc...

then there are the haunted houses such as "fright at the fort" in prospect maine and towns immersing themselves in this occultness such as bucksport maine's "ghostport day". as a christian trying to walk in the way that i should, these things are abhorrent to me!  yet i am surrounded by christians and non christians alike who still believe that it is "harmless fun"

..........and then there are the wiccans and satanists............they rejoice because this is their celebration and we are going right along with them.  celebrating right alongside them.



......oh, 

.............except me.


I'M A WEIRDO

Saturday, September 6, 2014

a boy who loves little einsteins!

our grandson recently celebrated his 3rd birthday and the theme was
Little Einsteins, his favorite cartoon.


bubby and grampa created the red rocket cake for him

we had fun making it!

meghan drew the rocket, grampa cut it out then meghan painted it
everyone had fun "pretending"  and getting their pics taken

lots of cupcakes!

meghan set up a musical activity center



other activities were water fun, sandbox, and just all around playing!!!!

for decorations there were balloons and colorful musical notes all over

joe had an awesome day!

Sunday, August 10, 2014

the truth about being a mom & wife

we have all heard these sayings over the years, and now they are pinned like crazy on pinterest.  personally i think the proliferation of these ideas is causing a lot stress and feelings of being overwhelmed in the young mothers of today.

here are a few examples:








I am not talking about having a spotless, museum quality home.  I'm talking about getting organized and making an attempt every day to keep the chaos under control.  I'm talking about making sure that your priorities each day, in addition to loving on and giving your baby/children attention, also include making sure your family has clean clothes, a clean & safe environment to play in, and at least three good meals a day.  This includes making sure your husband also has what he needs in order to go out into the world and provide for his family.  

**note:  if you are a full-time dual income family then disregard this message :)

Living in a house where just finding a clean dish or your shoes or the floor becomes an adventure is not fun.  it will overwhelm you and make you and your family unhappy.  while you think you are "making memories" instead of cleaning, all your kids will remember was how stressed out and overwhelmed mom was every morning or evening.  they will remember the yelling. they will remember the confusion and the stress.

so my advice is to disregard all of these modern messages.  THESE ARE LIES PERPETUATED BY LAZY PEOPLE!!!!!  never before in history have women left their housework undone and meals unplanned and given their children 100% attention all. day. long.   modern women, who have all of the modern advantages such as washer and dryers, crockpots and microwaves, still don't seem to be able to get their stuff done each day.  why?!!  Because they believe that its okay not to do their chores!!!!  and just play.

the following is a summary of a typical farm womans day around 1900
  This is a vague, general idea of how I spend my time; my work is so varied that it would be difficult, indeed, to describe a typical day's work.
Any bright morning in the latter part of May I am out of bed at four o'clock; next, after I have dressed and combed my hair, I start a fire in the kitchen stove, and while the stove is getting hot I go to my flower garden and gather a choice, half-blown rose and a spray of bride's wreath, and arrange them in my hair, and sweep the floors and then cook breakfast.
While the other members of the family are eating breakfast I strain away the morning's milk (for my husband milks the cows while I get breakfast), and fill my husband's dinner pail, for he will go to work on our other farm for the day.
By this time it is half-past five o'clock, my husband is gone to his work, and the stock loudly pleading to be turned into the pastures. The younger cattle, a half-dozen steers, are left in the pasture at night, and I now drive the two cows, a half-quarter mile and turn them in with the others, come back, and then there's a horse in the barn that be­longs in a field where there is no water, which I take to a spring quite a distance from the barn; bring it back and turn it into a field with the sheep, a dozen in number, which are housed at night.
The young calves are then turned out into the warm sunshine, and the stock hogs, which are kept in a pen, are clamoring for feed, and I carry a pailful of swill to them, and hasten to the house and turn out the chickens and put out feed and water for them, and it is, perhaps, 6.30 A..M.
I have not eaten breakfast yet, but that can wait; I make the beds next and straighten things up in the living room, for I dislike to have the early morning caller find my house topsy-turvy. When this is done I go to the kitchen, which also serves as a dining-room, and uncover the table, and take a mouthful of food occasionally as I pass to and fro at my work until my appetite is appeased.
By the time the work is done in the kitchen it is about 7.15 A. M., and the cool morning hours have flown, and no hoeing done in the garden yet, and the children's toilet has to be attended to and churning has to be done.
Finally the children are washed and churning done, and it is eight o'clock, and the sun getting hot, but no matter, weeds die quickly when cut down in the heat of the day, and I use the hoe to a good advantage until the din­ner hour, which is 11.30 A. M. We come in, and I comb my hair, and put fresh flowers in it, and eat a cold dinner, put out feed and water for the chickens; set a hen, perhaps, sweep the floors again; sit down and rest, and read a few moments, and it is nearly one 0' clock, and I sweep the door yard while I am waiting for the clock to strike the hour.
Harvesting wheat, 1915
I make and sow a flower bed, dig around some shrubbery, and go back to the garden to hoe until time to do the chores at night, but ere long some hogs come up to the back gate, through the wheat field, and when I go to see what is wrong I find that the cows have torn the fence down, and they, too, are in the wheat field.
With much difficulty I get them back into their own domain and repair the fence. I hoe in the garden till four o'clock; then I go into the house and get supper, and prepare some­thing for the dinner pail to-morrow; when supper is all ready it is set aside, and I pull a few hundred plants of tomato, sweet potato or cabbage for transplanting, set them in a cool, moist place where they will not wilt, and I then go after the horse, water him, and put him in the barn; call the sheep and house them, and go after the cows and milk them, feed the hogs, put down hay for three horses, and put oats and corn in their troughs, and set those plants and come in and fasten up the chickens, and it is dark. By this time it is 8 o'clock P. M.; my husband has come home, and we are eating supper; when we are through eating I make the beds ready, and the children and their father go to bed, and I wash the dishes and get things in shape to get breakfast quickly next morning.
It is now about 9 o'clock P. M., and after a short prayer I retire for the night."

i'm pretty sure that modern housewives should be able to learn a thing or two from their great-grandmothers.




Saturday, August 9, 2014

breastfeeding

you would think that the current generation of mothers just invented it. i find it amusing that the generations that don't stay home with their babies are the ones that are so militant about breastfeeding them.  but that's not my main gripe with them.  my main gripe is their lack of modesty and their pride about their lack of modesty.

latch ons.  what?  where groups of women meet in public places to breast feed in unison.  who has time for that?

if moms were modest about their feeding then no one would have a problem with you feeding in public.  the problem lies with those breastfeeding moms who want to flash their nipples around in front of everyone.  not appropriate behavior in any situation.

it is totally possible to breastfeed your baby while keeping your chest covered.  you don't have to use a nursing cover.  just wear appropriate clothing and don't bare yourself to everyone!

very few people have a problem with breastfeeding moms in public.  we do have a problem with exhibitionism when it comes to feeding your baby.

whew!  glad i got that off of my chest (no pun intended)

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

crazy busy!


this is basically my life right now.  with work on the side.  and a couple days of alone time for jeff and I.
I love these boys so much that it makes my heart feel so full just looking at this picture!!!! 



Thursday, July 10, 2014

diy baby dedication at home


our daughter and son in law decided that they wanted to dedicate charlie at home with family instead of a church dedication.  they got married here, so it made sense to them.
since it was on july 5th i went with a patriotic theme for the decorations

i also made a birthday cake for ethan since he was to turn two in a few days
i decorated the table with bandannas from walmart and made a cross of cupcakes.
i painted frames from dollar tree and downloaded and printed these free graphics.
i bought a youth bible and had everyone write something in it.
of course we had to feast because that's what we do!  i did a hot dog bar with chips
we all stood around the dining room table and prayed and read scripture
everyone took turns
the little boys just played while we did this
papa burrows offered a wonderful prayer
grampa  smith and jeff jr. played "jesus loves me"
then grampa played and sang a song he had written years ago & he dedicated it to all the little boys.
it was a wonderful, special time for this family.  i love how grampa & gramma smith were watching over us.

Monday, June 30, 2014

Day#30 I made it!!!!!


yup, it's finally hot in maine!!!!!!  depending on where you are, of course!  yesterday and today were in the upper 80's at my house and inland, but lower along the coast.

i bought this pool at marden's for the awesome price of $15.  it's supposed to be for the boys, but i told jeff to fill it up on friday and we enjoyed lazing in it yesterday and today when the afternoon got too hot.  we are surrounded by lakes, but i just want peace and quiet and privacy.

well, i think after blogging every day for 30 days, writing a blog a couple times a week should be easy? i'm hoping that this summer is not a busy one.  i want to take time to rest and relax and breathe.


Sunday, June 29, 2014

Day #29 my sunday

my day started at 6 am.  coffee and out to my garden to sit and drink my coffee.  it's finally warm enough in the mornings to do that, but i did wear a sweater.
a 2.5 mile walk
church
pastor talked about paying attention to how we speak this week.  no boasting. no talking about ourselves. no facebook selfies.  he dislikes facebook.
home for lunch
up to bangor to pick up my new futon for my guest/craft room.  i love it!  its a queen size, oak, with an 8" innerspring mattress.
home to sit in my little pool i bought for the boys (and me)  as we have finally gotten some pretty warm temperatures. the pool is just the right size for jeff and i to lounge in with a drink in our hand.
then putting the futon together
doing a few houseworky things
a nice fresh salad for dinner with peanuts and cheese
now a cup of chai latte
not a bad day at all.

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Day #28 farmers market

this year i am trying to go to the farmers market each week.  i did not plant a garden this summer so it is really important to get me some fresh, fresh, fresh veggies!

the season has been really slow in starting this year, but i think its going to be a good one.

here is my bounty from todays market

i purchased 2 really large heads of leaf lettuce, a large bunch of swiss chard, a large bunch of spinach, 4 medium heads of brocolli, 2 large bunches of radishes, 2 pints of strawberries, and 2 containers of goat cheese spread--all organic.  

eating healthy does not come cheap.  these purchases cost me $43.  however salad greens are the basis for all of my lunches and dinners and these will last me all week.  

i'm looking forward to visiting the market each saturday morning & i'm considering joining a CSA next summer.

Friday, June 27, 2014

Day #27 Alessandro Fabbri

what????!!!!!

yeah, i'm grasping at straws at this point.

but there is a point

for work today we took our program on a ride to acadia national park to picnic.

the name of the picnic area is the Fabbri picnic area.

evidently there was a guy during world war one who manned a naval something or other on mount desert island and the town of otter creek erected a memorial to him because of the awesome importance of his work there from 1917-1919.  when the land was donated to the feds for the park they were told they needed to honor this memorial.

it is a pretty little spot




it was a nice afternoon out & we are lucky to have this park nearby.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Day #26 i got nothing

hahaha, i made it to day 26 out of 30 before i absolutely came up with nothing.

today was a rainy cool day in downeast maine.  temperatures around 60 and overnight tonight it may dip into the high 40's.  however, we are expecting some warmer temps this weekend.


Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Day #25 thirty one years

thirty one years we've been married and we are still trying to learn how to do this thing!!!!  but i will say that we will die trying thats for sure!

so this is how we did this anniversary thing

slept in a bit later
went for a walk
spent the afternoon with calvin & ethan   (their parents are running vbs at their church this week)
went to a local take out place called crosbys and got a fried scallop meal & a fried shrimp meal with fries, onion rings, roll, and cole slaw, then drove down to the waterfront and ate in the truck (it was raining)

well thats how it went.  not too exciting, except for the dancing around the living room with the boys part.

***yesterday i discovered a really pretty honeysuckle plant that i had chucked into the woods after we dismantled a garden bed against the house when we moved in ten years ago.  evidently it had just languished unnoticed all this time until we cut some trees down in that area.  now its everywhere!

really pretty orange/red flowers

as long as i'm sharing pics i think i'll share these two i took this morning

we just re-did the front porch & lawn area.  flowers are doing awesome.  grass?  we are definitely not grass growing kinda people.as long as its somewhat green we are good.
our back deck is gone!!!!! i am so happy!!  jeff  put up those crazy steps so he can go in and out.  we need to do some work on the slab and skirting and grading the ground and then he is going to build a much, much smaller deck.  and oversized porch. 



Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Day #24 firefly vs lightening bug

in new jersey we called them lightening bugs

you know, i'm not sure what mainers call them.

anyways.......

in new jersey there were TONS!!!!!  they put on quite a show.  and they always light up a bit as they were rising up out of the grass.

here in maine they light up for quite a while as they fly sideways.

in new jersey the kids would catch a bunch and put them in a peanut butter jar (plastic)  then they would throw it up high and let it hit the ground.  all of the bugs would light at once and stay lit.

when i was a kid we only had glass jars so we would put grass and twigs in it and catch a bunch and poke holes in the lid and keep it in our rooms overnight.

i have not yet taught my grandsons to catch them yet.  i have to wait until they are old enough to be awake when it gets dark out.

there you have it!  my observations on fireflies/lightening bugs

Monday, June 23, 2014

Day #23 television is sinful

OUCH!!!!

that title hurts!!!!

i really thought about that one before i wrote it, however i could not come up with any good enough reason why that statement was not true.

don't get me wrong.  tv can be a useful thing in very limited and restricted amounts.  for instance: an occasional documentary or educational program or an educational cartoon popped in when you need a little down time.  both of these things can be accomplished with dvd or online.

i'm talking about cable/satellite television here.  50,000 channels of mind numbing garbage.  if you can even find a decent program the commercials will be trash.

basically i believe that it is a stumbling block to collective and individual walks with God.

we can strive for the highest possible moral ground when it comes to modesty, but when we turn on the television all of that goes right out the window.  there is not a program or a news show or a commercial anymore that doesn't somehow bombard you with  innuendo or images that are offensive or inappropriate.

even a show as seeminly innocent as survivorman or some such nonsense has a man dressed in a loin cloth  for the entire episode.  this is inappropriate to view.  whether it is a man barely dressed or a woman barely dressed.  both are wrong to view.

the more we believe that viewing these types of things is okay, because, after all, it's on television, the further i believe our hearts get from God and each other.

television is a time stealer and nothing is gained from sitting in front of it for 3-5 hours or more each day.  conversation, if it happens at all, only revolves around what is happening on tv.  i have had one sided conversations a plenty in the last 30 years.  sometimes the sound may even be muted so you can speak, but the attention is not fully there.

all the news all the time is quite possibly a significant source of a ton of my anxiety.  there is no possible way that i can listen to this crap without worrying about it.  again, the need to hear every word that comes out of the talking head's mouth without having any desire to go out into the world and try to change/impact it far outweighs my peace of mind.

i have longed for the peace of mind, heart, & conscience that being unplugged from the filth and troubles and nonsense of the world would bring.  my home is supposed to be my refuge, but it's not.  that black box steals from me far more than it gives to me.

this is not written on a whim.  when my family was young i came to realize that being plugged into the world was not the proper thing to do.  but, as with all major decisions, both parties have to agree.  that has never happened.

i saw this quote yesterday
"if something in your life is not right, then change it"

easier said than done.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Day #22 little irritation

most cars now a days have a key fob thingy that locks and unlocks the doors.  i have one also.

my little irritation involves the beep that a car makes when someone hits the lock button on their fob.

that bothers me!!!!

especially if i am walking by or right next to the car.

first thing i did when i bought my car was to disable the beep.

it can be done.  look in the manual.

some people have said they know its locked if they hear the beep.

really?

i hit the button when i'm standing right next to it and i hear that comforting "thunk" sound that lets me know its locked and doesn't bother anyone.


thanks for listening!


Saturday, June 21, 2014

Day 21 summer solstice

This morning in ellsworth maine the sun rose at 4:48 a.m.  and it will set this evening at 8:22 p.m.
this makes the longest day of the year 15 hours and 34 minutes long.

it is a sunny day with a bit of a breeze.  mosquitos and black flies are not bad at all, but the deer flies are pestering.

we did some errands this morning.

finally made it to the farmers market and bought lettuce, swiss chard, and spinach.  in this part of the country that is what is currently available locally grown (he had some bok choy & rhubarb also)

got new phones!  hubby is not only figuring out the texting keyboard, but also touch screen.

picked up some groceries.  with these prices i may just finally lose some weight!!!

crafting stuff for the summer--mostly some decorations (banners & such) for baby charlies dedication/ethans 2nd birthday.  we will be having a combo celebration.....

,,,,,,,,,,and we are having a home dedication!!!!

the theme is patriotic--lots of ideas on pinterest

here is one project

frames from the dollar tree--spray painted & the rest i found on pinterest and printed off.  i made two of the one in the middle because i really love it!

happy first day of summer!!!!

oh, and the high temperature for today is 72* after a low around 50*

Friday, June 20, 2014

Day #20 rosa rugoso

wikipedia calls it an invasive weed.  it is not a native plant, but it smells heavenly and looks beautiful



Thursday, June 19, 2014

Day #19 detours

i've made a lot of mistakes in my life.

well, maybe not a lot,

but plenty enough.

however, becoming pregnant before i was legally married was not one of them.

call it a detour, change in plans, bump in the road, anything

just never call it a mistake.  never call it an accident.

i had sex on purpose!  because i was crazy in love with someone and it didn't matter to me that we didn't have a piece of paper issued by the government.

technicality.

I knew as soon as i was pregnant, but i delayed getting married because i didn't want to cover up something that i was so happy about.

i wasn't ashamed or scared.  i was happy!!!!   And i never once felt that it was something to hide or to confess, or to atone for.

i guess that's all i want to say.

i was going to go on about people judging (gee that comes up a lot)
and how the judgers better keep that closet full of skeletons locked up tight.
all those good christian woman who ran around wild in their younger days will stand around and gossip

instead of showing love and encouragement.
all worried about what others will think.  tsk, tsk.

***i wrote this as an encouragement.  and as a testimony.
btw we've been married almost 31 years & our son will be 31 in november!

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Day #18 wild flower finds

about a week ago i was driving down the road and i noticed some different leaves occasionally along the side of the road.  so i went for a walk and this is what i found

wild irises?!!
yeah.....i went back with a shovel and a bag and scored me quite a few of these.
i'm assuming that when the road was paved a couple of years ago they seeded the shoulders with wildflower mix and its taken that long for these to appear?

so while i was at it i also went to another spot where every year i spy these beauties

wild columbine
there are purple and pink and a bluish color.  i've seen them there in the ditch for quite a while but i always forget about them.

add these to the lupines i snitched off the side of the road a few years ago, plus the chives, and the day lilies and i've got quite the wildflower garden going along the side of the driveway.  

here are a couple more photos taken on a walk on the wink

there are blueberry fields on the top of the road with a lonely little camp in the middle of them.


these are bee hives brought all the way here from Florida to pollinate the blueberry crop.  





Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Day #17 Church Etiquette

I was going to write a post about church etiquette, and then thought better of it.

it would just lead me into a judge-fest  (see post #8)

and i don't want to go there.

suffice it to say that it is what it is.

and it always will be.

amen 

have a nice day, maybe i'll have a better topic tomorrow.

Monday, June 16, 2014

Day #16 Hippos

Random topic, huh?

Our family has a history with hippo addiction that i don't want to go into in detail.

I will just say that this post is dedicated to my daughter Julie and her husband Ben.

I've been working my way through the book of Job for my bible study time.  I've almost gotten to the end and this morning I came across this:

Job 40:15-24

God speaking to Job

Take a look at the mighty hippopotamus (behemoth). I made it, just as I made you.  It eats grass like an ox.  See its powerful loins and the muscles of its belly.  Its tail is as straight as a cedar.  The sinews of its thighs are tightly knit together.  Its bones are tubes of bronze.  Its limbs are bars of iron.  It is a prime example of God's amazing handiwork.  Only its Creator can threaten it..  The mountains offer it their best food, where all the wild animals play.  It lies down under the lotus plants, hidden by the reeds.  The lotus plants give it shade among the willows beside the stream.  It is not disturbed by raging rivers, not even when the swelling Jordan rushes down upon it.  No one can catch it off guard or put a ring in its nose and lead it away.

There you have it!  The hippo was special to God!

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Day #15 Honoring God's name

Well, here is another topic that has given me some stress lately.

Using the Lord's name in vain.

That is how I was taught to recite this commandment.

Do not use the name of the Lord in vain.

The bible I'm currently using says:

Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God.  The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.


vain:  having no real value, worthless, without effect, futile, fruitless, profane

Now, I'm not absolutely innocent in the use of the name of God.

However, there is a difference between  a slip and remorse & constant use.

And when you say "Oh my goodness, Oh gee, jiminy cricket, jeesum crow (never heard that one until I moved to Maine), etc.  you get the idea........these are all substitutes........and I was taught that they were wrong also.

A popular one among devout Christians is "Oh my word!".................again..................just the same as you saying "Oh my ***"  (even doing that was wrong, i repent....)
"Word" is another name for Jesus.


Sooooo, I've been trying to use "holy moly" as my most favorite exclamation. If someone can let me know if that somehow is not a good substitute I would be extremely grateful.

You see, I'm trying to keep my little grandsons from growing up having a disrespectful attitude toward the name of God.  (or names of God)

In today's world that is a HUGE undertaking

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Day #14 Flag Day

It's flag day!

Not a day we have a big party or cookout or anything.

But it is a day to stop and think about where your heart is in regards to this great country we are blessed to live in.

Sure, there is a lot of not-so-great stuff that happens here--just watch the news, but i believe the news is only reporting the bad stuff; and there is a whole lot more good stuff going on than bad.

Back to the flag.  And patriotism.  I'm a little disturbed, for instance, when I'm at an event and the national anthem is sung and only a few people place their hand over their heart or remove their hat.  I was taught in school to do this as a sign of respect for our country.  Maybe I was only taught that in Catholic School?  I'm not going to jump all over Public School here, but do they still teach kids to respect their country?

This worries me.......do kids still recite the Pledge of Allegiance in schools?

Now my anxiety is kicking in!  Did i teach my own kids enough about patriotism and the TRUE history of our country?

I hereby pledge to teach my grandchildren to recite the pledge, to respect the flag, to remove their hat, and to show respect and love for their great country by placing their hand over their heart whenever they pledge or sing about the USA!  Will you join me?

Friday, June 13, 2014

Day #13 my craft room

ever since the kids married and moved out of the house i have had dreams of a craft room.  so when a room became available i moved every craft related item into that room.  some of it had been tucked in other closets, under the bed, everywhere!

mostly i keep it somewhat organized, but when i get into a crafting frenzy it can get quite messy!  this is what my craft supplies looks like right now


these are the storage units i've chosen from ikea to get this room in order

2 of these, one on either side of the one below


there will also be a smaller version of the above shelving unit on another wall to hold toys that i don't want the boys to have free access to all of the time.

also, this room will be used as a guest room.  we are going this weekend to buy a futon with a comfy mattress to put in this room.

but it will probably be fall before i get to ikea as its down south of boston and we currently have no travel plans.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Day #11 cell phone addiction



(typo in that one, what, no spell check?)

i am not addicted to my cell phone.  i think i have a healthy relationship with it.  it is my only phone.  no land line, so i try to keep it charged and in a location where i can find it.  i take it with me to work and i keep it on silent in my pocket.  at home its on the kitchen counter.  i have tons of minutes and unlimited texting.  i have no data. i don't use it to take pictures.  it is a means of communication when necessary.  

i feel bad for children growing up with parents whose attention is shared with the world and not just given to them.

i feel bad for the people who are impacted when people text while driving.  even just looking at a text is a distraction and a deadly one at that.  i get scared because i can't be sure that my own family members don't do this.  i know that my husband and i don't.

i feel angry because people look down at their phones screen rather than look around them and notice what is going on right there.  

the more people are connected to each other through technology, the less they really know each other or even care.  


Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Day #11 busy bags



since i am firmly entrenched in baby/toddler/preschool land for quite a while, i decided it was time to start getting my resources together

busy bags?  never heard of such a thing.  back in the day i just had a cabinet full of stuff to pull out to keep them busy.  organizing it into bags that you can just grab quickly---awesome!  why didn't i think of that?

so i made a trip to dollar tree and walmart and between that and stuff i had laying around the house i came up with nine bags this week.  five are pictured above

from top left:  pool noodles cut into 1" chunks and a shoestring
                     painted clothespins and foam sheets
                     big buttons to sort and put into the slot in the cups
                     egg carton sorter color sorter with poms
                     pipe cleaners with a cool whip container (holes drilled in top)

i also made:  melissa and doug "colorforms"  i found at tjmaxx
                    a bag with 4 four wheeler vehicles
                    a bag with 4 dinosaurs
                    color, numbers, shapes flash cards disney & pooh

i used zip lock bags of varying sizes (dollar tree even has the 2 gallon ones!) and for now i put them all in a box and they are going to ethan's house.

you see, ethan is not quite two years old and he has a little brother who is four months old.  ethan needs occupying while momma feeds calvin because he is acting out for attention.

i love this idea and the idea of making them educational.  i'm planning on making lots more and keeping them available for all of my children to borrow.
                   

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Day #10 modesty follow up

i've actually had a lot of anxiety over yesterdays post. mostly because i don't want anyone to think i'm judging anyone else by having the opinion that i do.

that really bothers me.

someone commented that churches won't touch that subject. that is true.  and then there are others who stress it tooo much.

someone else asked how do we teach the young girls modesty?  that is a tough one.  not a tough one to answer, but a tough one to implement.

because, like all good things, it takes effort and commitment.

little girls are influenced through peer pressure and the media.  every effort has to be made to lessen this exposure.  it seems that a popular opinion is that children need to have tons of friends with no worries about all of that negative influence that comes from that.  a few carefully chosen friends are a much better influence on your childs life.  

and i'm just gonna say it:  tv is the devil.  no one can rightly argue that statement.

as mothers we need to be godly examples for our children.  it's not easy, but its only going to be through consistency and faithful adherence to the word of God as the ultimate authority that our children will respect us enough to trust that our guidelines for their lives are fair and good for them.

you have to make sure that your children respect you more than they respect their peers.  THAT is hard work, but the payoff is awesome!

i have a daughter.  she is 25.  i have never had a problem with her trusting my judgement on how she should dress.  i do have to say that she was homeschooled & we do have television.  but i must have been doing something else right because she did not rebel against my teaching.  i know it was the constant prayer and the fact that i was never afraid to go against what the rest of the world was doing.

as far as clothing went i had a few rules.  pretty simple. shorts had to at least come to your fingertips, shirts could show no belly when your hands were held above your head.  no cleavage should show, and the waist of your pants should not be too low. two piece bathing suits were fine as long as they still covered your belly. bikinis are less material than underwear-definitely not appropriate for a young woman who respects herself.

our daughters and granddaughters need to be constantly taught that they are priceless and therefore should not walk around in the world advertising that they are cheap.

these are tough words.  i know.  but if we (meaning my audience here, which is "older" women of the church of God) are going to take our responsibility to teach the younger women seriously, then tough words are required.

most of this has been geared toward girls.  but boys have responsibilities also to dress appropriately.
i also have two sons and i like to think i did a good job of sheltering them from the worldly "norms" of society, to respect woman and not fall for their "false advertising".




Monday, June 9, 2014

Day #9 is modesty dead?

i sure hope not.  but i don't see tons of signs that it isn't.

this post is prompted by seeing short shorts in church yesterday.  i was not a happy camper. but seeing as i wrote a post about judging others yesterday, i'm trying real hard to just pray that those who dress immodestly are doing it out of ignorance and not pride.

i don't want to see cleavage, thighs, bellies, backs, etc. male or female.  i only want to see arms and legs (knee down)  anything else, to me, is immodest dress.  ESPECIALLY IN CHURCH!!!!!

now don't get me wrong, i am not a legalistic, dress code for church kind of person.  skirt, dress, slacks, shorts (appropriate length) are all ok with me.  jeans are awesome as long as they are not skin tight.

and this doesn't just apply to church time for me.  it is my opinion that it is a prideful heart that provokes a woman to wear revealing clothing.  and short shorts are revealing.  two piece bathing suits are revealing.  what are they advertising?  not a good thing.

i expected modest dress from my daughter and she was fine with that and she still is.  i think that dressing modestly shows that you respect yourself and those around you.

i'm just going to go ahead and say it:   sexual sin and immodest dress go hand in hand.
i could say much more and quote scripture, but i'm just going to leave it at that.

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Day #8 not being judgemental

not be judgemental?

is it even possible?

even when we think we are not.

we are.

i do it all the time.

i judge people by the car they drive:  crappy old clunker must be a welfare mom on her way to walmart.     brand new lexus must be a snooty rich lady on her way to get her nails done.

i judge people by what they are wearing (i'd hate to think what my attire speaks to others, ugh)

i judge people by what they do and what they don't do

i judge people by all sorts of standards.

i think its human nature to draw conclusions about people when you don't know much about them.

doesn't make it right and it's totally unproductive.

i personally have been working on it.

my being judgemental, that is.

when you stop to realize that everyone else is just like me. with a story.  good or bad or somewhere in between.

everybody comes from somewhere and everybody is going somewhere.

why are we here?

i've found that answer for myself.  isn't it my obligation to help someone else discover that answer?

and how can i do that if i don't get past the facades of life?

my first step on this journey?

prayer.

instead of my first reaction to someone being to judge them.  i pray for them.  i lift them up to God and ask for a blessing for them.

whether it's a coworker, or someone you pass in walmart regularly (that happens a lot here in maine!), or a stranger walking down the road.

pray for them.

it's like giving them a gift

and receiving one yourself

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Day #7 What I do

I work for Downeast Horizons.  www.dehi.org   it is an agency that supports adults and children with developmental disabilities. i work in the adult program.  ten hours a week i work with a young man who has autism and lives on his own.  i help him with meal planning/shopping, keeping his apartment under control, transporting to appointments and recreation.  basically my job is to make sure that he has what he needs to live safely in the community. it can be stressful at times and then other times its just like hanging out with someone for the day.  it is satisfying and you never feel like you wasted time or were doing something useless.  i used to feel like that when i worked in the supermarket.

15 hours a week i work in an evening program.  the group varies in size from 8-16 adults with 3 staff.  their ages vary from 25 to 60.  we work with the program participants on meal planning/prep, healthy habits, exercise, safety, in addition to community inclusion activities and recreational activities.  we also do arts and crafts, bingo, karaoke (my absolute favorite) and movies.  this is a fun group and i enjoy it a lot.

The company i work for is always hiring.  we are continually growing and it is hard to find good, dedicated employees.  it's not just a job.  you have to really want to do this type of work or you won't last long.  the majority of the adults have downs syndrome.  in the younger generations it is autism.  there are very few young people with downs due to abortion.  so sad.  the children's programs are growing quickly because autism has become so prevalent.  its a bit scary when you think about it.  we need to find out what it is in our environment that is causing this!

There is a huge wave of young people growing out of the children's program and needing services as adults. these young people need support staff in order to live in and be safe in the community.  this field is set to grow tremendously.  the agency i work for provides the training you need and has very flexible schedules.  No matter what part of the country you live in it must be a similar situation.  I would highly recommend this field of employment to anyone who is looking to not only earn a living but do it in a rewarding and fulfilling way.

Friday, June 6, 2014

Day #6 Chives

i love chives.

i love to eat them.

i love to smell them.

i love to look at them.


you buy one small chive plant and in no time at all they are everywhere!

i just dug up and transplanted my chives along the driveway where i'm trying to get some "natural" color.  i planted them all along a 200 ft. section and i think they will look beautiful each spring when they bloom and will fill in a nice thick green the rest of the summer.

and whenever i make potato salad i can just walk up the driveway and snip to my hearts content!

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Day #5 Homemade

I have been slowly replacing the chemicals in my life with safer, healthier, homemade versions of products i use a lot.  here are a few examples and results:

deodorant

i have been using my homemade deodorant for quite a while now and i love it!  so far no BO!!!!!

6 tblsp. melted coconut oil
1 tblsp. almond oil
1/4 c. cornstarch
1/4 c. baking soda
about 25 drops essential oil ---so far i have only used peppermint because it makes me peppy---heehee

melt the coconut oil in the micro, whisk in the almond oil and then the dry ingredients & essential oil
pour into a container and let sit.  it will harden.

all ingredients are found in the grocery store except the essential oil i bought in the health food store.
i apply this with my fingers, it rubs right in and dries.  so far it has worked really well for me

shampoo

1/3 c. castille soap (liquid)  purchased at the health food store
1/3 to 2/3 cup water  (depending on how runny you want it)
2 tblsp. baking soda
1 tblsp. melted coconut oil
25 drops essential oil

there are a few different pre-scented castille soap or you can buy unscented and create your own scent with the essential oils.
so far i also love the peppermint, again because it makes me peppy!
i mix it all up and put it in a little squeeze bottle.  you can make larger amounts too!

air freshener spray

5 oz. water
1 oz. alcohol
essential oil--25+ drops

put ingredients into a small spray bottle--found mine at walmart.  a couple spritzes into the air does the trick.  so far my favorite scent is spearmint.  we only use this in the bathroom and i swear the house smells sooo much better.

bug spray

ok, this is AWESOME.  and i should know because we live in black fly and mosquito heaven!

again, i use a small spray bottle from walmart

4 oz. witch hazel
1 oz. sweet almond oil
essential oils:  citronella, lemon, lavender, peppermint

you can also use eucalyptus but i've heard you shouldn't use that oil on babies?  use at least 3 of the essential oils--about 15 drops each.
i spray this on my skin and rub in.  i spray it on my hair.  i spray it into my palms and rub it all over my face and ears.

no bites!!!!!! i so far have only been bitten in spots that i didn't spray (like one got down my shirt)
i am very impressed and so far have made and used a couple of batches.  the bugs hover, but do not bite.

i researched for these products and looked for simple recipes and then tweeked them. and i must say i am very happy with the results--especially the bug spray!

some essential oils are $$$$$  but i don't think i spent more than $10 a bottle. some were $4-$5.  but they last a long, long time and they are natural & pure.


Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Day #4 household pet peeves

These are currently my top 5 pet peeves around the house.  that would be my house or any house

1.  dishes piled up so high in the sink that you can't possible wash them without taking them all out.  if you can't wash them right away, then neatly stack them off to the side.  however, i have learned in my life that life is much easier if you just take the couple of minutes to wash a few things at a time now and then throughout the day.  btw  i've never used a dishwasher.

2.  laundry (clean or dirty) taking over the living area.  laundry is something that should be done every day. put a load in in the morning then move it to the dryer in the evening, or the reverse.  fold it and put it away or fold it and put it back in the basket and put the basket in the bedroom until you do put it away.  i tend to do laundry all week and then put it away one time.  but when we had five of us here i put it away daily.

3.  not being able to walk around barefoot in the house.  there is nothing worse than crumbs and dirt sticking to your feet!!!! yuck!!!  not to mention crawling babies and playing toddlers picking up all kinds of stuff off of the floor.  it takes 2 minutes to do a quick sweep once a day on the kitchen and run the vacuum over the carpet once a day.

4.  dirty kitchen counters.  now, i have white ones so i can see every crumb and spill.  but if you have dark ones you can't.  but just because you can't see anything does not mean its not there.  kitchen counters should be wiped down a lot!!!!!

5.  overly full trash can in the kitchen.  again, it takes 2 minutes to tie up the bag, put it out and replace it.  i'd say you should be doing that at least every other day if you have a family.


Now i will admit that i have a touch of OCD.  some would disagree with the word "touch"

it really does only take a few minutes here and there to keep your house "presentable"  i'm not talking about having a perfect, spotless home. just presentable.

i personally cannot function unless there is some semblance of order.

As a former stay at home mom i always tried to shoot for the house to look like i did accomplish something during my day. i know, i know, taking care of children is something.  but i'm old fashioned and always believed that a man should come home to an orderly home and a meal on the table. at the very least.




Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Day #3 Beaver Pond

There is a creek that flows through the woods across the road and then crosses under our road a little ways past our driveway.

we don't go in the woods across the road as much as we go in the woods out behind us.  it had been a few years at least since we hiked around there.  the logging roads are pretty overgrown and its not easy hiking.

recently a neighbor asked if we had been over there to see the beaver pond.  we had not.  amazing!  where once a small creek meandered through the woods a pretty significant dam had been constructed and acres and acres of land flooded.


my camera does not do the scene justice.



there is a fairly large looking beaver lodge way across from where we were standing.  i didn't have time to explore and get better pics, but this must have been here for at least a few years.  the pines were dying from standing in the water, but the water was teeming with tadpoles!  i bet its teeming with mosquitoes too, but since it is somewhat non-stagnant, maybe it won't be too bad.

so this is where all of the different sounds i've been hearing this spring and last year have been coming from.  just before we found out about the pond we had been discussing the loudness of the frog sounds were coming from across the road.  there were no ponds or vernal pools in there the last time we had explored.



the acreage that this pond is located on has been for sale since we've lived here (10 yrs.)  i've seen it advertised for subdividing and developing.  hopefully the beaver has put a damper on that for the time being!