We have been having a bit of a drought here along the downeast maine coast, but last night and this morning it rained A LOT! That should help a bit! It has also been warm and humid the last few days and this evening I have had to shut down all of the windows its so chilly. Yesterday we cleaned the stovepipe so I know those chilly fall days are coming right along!
Home: I have been trying really hard to keep a to-do list for all of the projects I need to do or want to do around the house. The problem is that when I'm in the midst of one project I find more to write down so the list just grows! But I love being home and doing home-related things, so it's a good thing! I have been trying to pare things down a bit and simplify my life a little more so there is a box in the back of my van to take to goodwill. That is a feeling I like.
Garden: Julie picked a bowl full of green beans today and I picked a couple of wanky cucumbers! I still have kale and swiss chard that I feed to my chickens because I didn't plant much. There are a few baby bear pumpkins coming on and turning orange. The zinnias and the cosmos are beautiful. I didn't dry herbs this year because I still have so much from last year. But I did make some flavored vodkas! I made chocolate mint vodka and anise hyssop vodka. I made simple syrup to keep in the fridge to add to it. Yummm!
Family: Everyone was over today and it was a wonderful day. I wasn't sure what to make for lunch so I went through the freezer and came up with ingredients for a breakfast casserole to which I added pumpkin bread and white bread, salad, cantaloupe, and glazed carrots. Then I made chocolate chip cookie bars and ice cream for dessert. The boys all played well together and little miss Sophie got happily handed around the room for everyone to enjoy! I love those times when a gathering all goes well.
Work: I've had another stressful and somewhat aggravating week. But there is a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel. At the end of this month I should be able to cut my scheduled hours back to 15. I will probably have 20 hours still but only if I choose to. What I really want is to be scheduled 10 hours and fill in when needed and I want. We will see what happens.
Homeschool: Ethan (4) will "officially" start homeschool preschool this Wednesday. We are going to kick off the school year with a picnic and playdate at the park. I've been preparing his lesson plans from Horizon curriculum (A & O) I gather what is needed and give his parents the lessons to teach. They are responsible for the extras like arts and crafts and what not. I will keep all of these lesson plans to use for all of the rest as they come along.
Wishing everyone a terrific week!
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Friday, September 2, 2016
pig's snout
Proverbs 11:22
A beautiful woman who lacks discretion
is like a gold ring
in a pig's snout.
I came across this description a few days ago in my bible study as I was looking something else up.
Something in my jumbled head said "write about this"
so here I go:
discretion: the quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offense or revealing private information.
I'm going to talk about having discretion in the way a woman dresses. Dressing in such a way that you keep what should be private, private.
This summer I've been nursing a sore heel. Since I think doctors are a waste of time and money (for the most part) I diagnosed myself as having achilles tendinitis and prescribed stretching and resting. I did this using Google, of course.
Anyway.............
I have spent a lot of time out in public......sitting and waiting for my client rather than walking, walking, walking. Some call it "people watching" Mostly at Walmart.
I have seen more skin, tattoos, and piercings this summer than I care to tell you. I am disgusted.
And before you think that its a worldly problem, I gotta say it happens at church also. I now have a new rule for church, if someone is dressed inappropriately (in my opinion) I leave.
Now, here is an admission: I wore some short shorts back in the day. And out in public at times. But, here is the point. I was never taught any better and when I learned how a woman should dress I changed and taught my daughter the right way.
So, I can't "make" woman dress modestly. I can't make them wear shorts and skirts and shirts of a longer length I can't make them cover up their cleavage and their crack. I can't make them act like a lady. If they want to be like a pig with a gold ring in their nose with which they are led around by the whims of the world, then so be it.
The funny thing about the inappropriate attire is that women say its unfair to put restrictions on how they dress. You know what is unfair? Women think they are being treated "equal" when they are really being exploited in the name of fairness.
A beautiful woman who lacks discretion
is like a gold ring
in a pig's snout.
I came across this description a few days ago in my bible study as I was looking something else up.
Something in my jumbled head said "write about this"
so here I go:
discretion: the quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offense or revealing private information.
I'm going to talk about having discretion in the way a woman dresses. Dressing in such a way that you keep what should be private, private.
This summer I've been nursing a sore heel. Since I think doctors are a waste of time and money (for the most part) I diagnosed myself as having achilles tendinitis and prescribed stretching and resting. I did this using Google, of course.
Anyway.............
I have spent a lot of time out in public......sitting and waiting for my client rather than walking, walking, walking. Some call it "people watching" Mostly at Walmart.
I have seen more skin, tattoos, and piercings this summer than I care to tell you. I am disgusted.
And before you think that its a worldly problem, I gotta say it happens at church also. I now have a new rule for church, if someone is dressed inappropriately (in my opinion) I leave.
Now, here is an admission: I wore some short shorts back in the day. And out in public at times. But, here is the point. I was never taught any better and when I learned how a woman should dress I changed and taught my daughter the right way.
So, I can't "make" woman dress modestly. I can't make them wear shorts and skirts and shirts of a longer length I can't make them cover up their cleavage and their crack. I can't make them act like a lady. If they want to be like a pig with a gold ring in their nose with which they are led around by the whims of the world, then so be it.
The funny thing about the inappropriate attire is that women say its unfair to put restrictions on how they dress. You know what is unfair? Women think they are being treated "equal" when they are really being exploited in the name of fairness.
Friday, August 19, 2016
What's going on?
Here's what's going on in my world this week!
We are headed toward fall. The season of green leaves is so short in northern new england. There are already touches of yellow and red here and there in the woods on the wink. We will still have warm weather (well, warm for us) and some humid days, but the wild sprint through summer is almost over.
When the crickets start to sing, you know it. The stores are full of autumn and I even bought a few things myself yesterday at the Christmas Tree Shop.
Home: I have been plugging along on some organizational things. Mostly still getting paperwork under control and streamlined. With the cooler weather coming I am planning on painting the master bedroom, already bought the paint. Then this winter we will think about replacing the 18 year old carpet with new carpet. As I have gotten older allergies have gone away and Jeff says he prefers the carpet over wood. So this decision will be his! We are having house guests for the next week, so I am putting off starting my big photo organization project until after Labor Day.
Work: Things have been much better with my client. So many things have gotten under control and it is more like it used to be. It was a wild ride for a few months there--I almost gave up and quit--I'm glad I didn't. I'm getting used to working the four days (20 hr) and I won't mind picking up a little more until winter comes.
Garden: All I am picking so far is flowers (glads and zinnias) and green beans. There are a few summer squash growing, but I know next year I have to hand pollinate. cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers had a late start, and then not enough rain, but I will still get some through the next month or so. The cucs actually look really good right now. Picking wild black raspberries by the handful up along the driveway. This year there is a ton of them, but there is also a wasp nest near them so it's a bit sketchy to pick!
Family: The littles are all growing up.....sniff, sniff.....and running around like crazy. Their favorite thing right now is to race each other across the back lawn (and I was thinking of turning it into gardens) oh well. They also love to go on "bear hunts" up the trail out back. One of our favorite books is "Going on a Bear Hunt" Little baby girl is so cute and so snuggly, and is becoming more independent. Looking forward to the next grandchild coming in February.
Misc: I just purchased Horizons Preschool curriculum (alpha & omega) for Ethan to work through this year. I will continue to put together book packets (books and activities that go along) and his parents will make sure he touches all the bases he should. I like the Charlotte Mason method of learning using good books. This will be a good introduction to homeschooling for his mom and dad. I didn't home school the very early grades with my kids, but I did use the Lifepacs from A&O and I really liked them.
well, there you go! Have a great weekend!
We are headed toward fall. The season of green leaves is so short in northern new england. There are already touches of yellow and red here and there in the woods on the wink. We will still have warm weather (well, warm for us) and some humid days, but the wild sprint through summer is almost over.
When the crickets start to sing, you know it. The stores are full of autumn and I even bought a few things myself yesterday at the Christmas Tree Shop.
Home: I have been plugging along on some organizational things. Mostly still getting paperwork under control and streamlined. With the cooler weather coming I am planning on painting the master bedroom, already bought the paint. Then this winter we will think about replacing the 18 year old carpet with new carpet. As I have gotten older allergies have gone away and Jeff says he prefers the carpet over wood. So this decision will be his! We are having house guests for the next week, so I am putting off starting my big photo organization project until after Labor Day.
Work: Things have been much better with my client. So many things have gotten under control and it is more like it used to be. It was a wild ride for a few months there--I almost gave up and quit--I'm glad I didn't. I'm getting used to working the four days (20 hr) and I won't mind picking up a little more until winter comes.
Garden: All I am picking so far is flowers (glads and zinnias) and green beans. There are a few summer squash growing, but I know next year I have to hand pollinate. cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers had a late start, and then not enough rain, but I will still get some through the next month or so. The cucs actually look really good right now. Picking wild black raspberries by the handful up along the driveway. This year there is a ton of them, but there is also a wasp nest near them so it's a bit sketchy to pick!
Family: The littles are all growing up.....sniff, sniff.....and running around like crazy. Their favorite thing right now is to race each other across the back lawn (and I was thinking of turning it into gardens) oh well. They also love to go on "bear hunts" up the trail out back. One of our favorite books is "Going on a Bear Hunt" Little baby girl is so cute and so snuggly, and is becoming more independent. Looking forward to the next grandchild coming in February.
Misc: I just purchased Horizons Preschool curriculum (alpha & omega) for Ethan to work through this year. I will continue to put together book packets (books and activities that go along) and his parents will make sure he touches all the bases he should. I like the Charlotte Mason method of learning using good books. This will be a good introduction to homeschooling for his mom and dad. I didn't home school the very early grades with my kids, but I did use the Lifepacs from A&O and I really liked them.
well, there you go! Have a great weekend!
Monday, August 15, 2016
A letter to young mothers
disclaimer: this is written to stay at home mothers, not career women.
Dear young mother,
Don't let your kids biggest memories of growing up be of riding in the car to this activity and that activity, this adventure and that adventure. Kids biggest memories of growing up should center around their own backyard.
No wonder the current generation of mothers is so concerned about car seats and what not! Their kids spend endless hours strapped into them being carted all over God's green earth!
Stay home! That's what kids want to do! Make your adventures happen at home and make memories at home!
Stay home! You are paying lots of money to own a home. Live in it, love it, embrace it, and create it!!
When all of the fun times and adventures happen away from the home, then kids will be bored at home.
Stay home! Build forts, set up a pool & sprinkler, make cookies, do crafts, etc. And in those quiet moments when the kids are occupied in some imaginative adventure then you should.............
Get to work! Get your housework done in bits and pieces, but get it done! Dishes, laundry, wiping down, sweeping up, do it daily then it won't build up. Cook big and less often. Make a menu and shop once a week then stay out of the stores! Spend less money that way!
A husband who works all day deserves to come home to a restful and tidy home and a meal already prepared. This is not 1950's nostalgia, it is still 2016 reality.
You are young, you can do it!!! you have it in you!!! I have faith that you can do it! If you get your days into a rhythm there will be harmony.
Kids do not want to be dragged around and neither do husbands. They want their home to be their sanctuary and it is your calling in life to make it just that.
Yours truly,
Old mother
Dear young mother,
Don't let your kids biggest memories of growing up be of riding in the car to this activity and that activity, this adventure and that adventure. Kids biggest memories of growing up should center around their own backyard.
No wonder the current generation of mothers is so concerned about car seats and what not! Their kids spend endless hours strapped into them being carted all over God's green earth!
Stay home! That's what kids want to do! Make your adventures happen at home and make memories at home!
Stay home! You are paying lots of money to own a home. Live in it, love it, embrace it, and create it!!
When all of the fun times and adventures happen away from the home, then kids will be bored at home.
Stay home! Build forts, set up a pool & sprinkler, make cookies, do crafts, etc. And in those quiet moments when the kids are occupied in some imaginative adventure then you should.............
Get to work! Get your housework done in bits and pieces, but get it done! Dishes, laundry, wiping down, sweeping up, do it daily then it won't build up. Cook big and less often. Make a menu and shop once a week then stay out of the stores! Spend less money that way!
A husband who works all day deserves to come home to a restful and tidy home and a meal already prepared. This is not 1950's nostalgia, it is still 2016 reality.
You are young, you can do it!!! you have it in you!!! I have faith that you can do it! If you get your days into a rhythm there will be harmony.
Kids do not want to be dragged around and neither do husbands. They want their home to be their sanctuary and it is your calling in life to make it just that.
Yours truly,
Old mother
Friday, August 12, 2016
what's going on?
I thought it was time to just do a daily life kind of blog post and not an opinion piece. Although I love to voice my opinion!
So I'm going to try to break it down into categories if I can.
Home: I've been trying to stay home as much as I can. Home is my sanctuary. The last few months my job has been very stressful and very overwhelming. This may seen funny to some people, considering I only work part time (20 hours), but it's the type of work I do.
So we haven't been running around on the off days and we've mostly been staying put in the evenings.
Work: Where do I start? For the longest time I worked my 20 hours in 2 days. In April it changed to 20 hours in 4 days. Then circumstances arose that have made the last few months with my client very hard to deal with. I'm hoping that we have peaked at the worst of it and that we are going to get calm again. This week has been the first good week in months. I would love to cut back to 10 hours a week, but I just don't see that happening right now because staffing needs are so great.
Garden: I've identified another mistake I've been making since we moved here. It could be contributing to my poor gardening skills: I've been storing my shredded leaves under a couple of pine trees. (palm to forehead) Have I been screwing up the PH? maybe.
Otherwise, I'm happier with the garden than I've been since I moved here and built it. It has been a struggle to spend enough time out there. I still don't, but I've spent more than normal and the results show.
*We expanded one bed and built another one. Now all of the available space in that area is used.
*We have been collecting cardboard and lining the paths and putting down straw, so weeds are less. * It has been a dry summer here in this part of Maine and I water each day, but I know it's not enough and I have even begun to water less because if the dryness continues I don't want my well to draw down.
*We did plant a row of high bush blueberries & the raspberry row we planted last year gave us tons of pickings!
*summer squash seems to be a bust again this year. There are just not enough bees in the middle of the woods. I've planted a lot more flowers, but it's not enough. So I either have to be a bee keeper or pollinate the plants myself. I don't see either one happening in the near future so I will just buy my squash from the farmer down the road.
* I've grown some greens to feed the chickens, but I've been shopping the farmers market to feed me!
Family: Our family is expanding! Grand baby #7 will be coming along in February! Joe & Luke will be welcoming a new brother or sister.
AND our daughter and son in law are buying a piece of land 2 miles from my house, on my road, and I am beyond happy about this! I can walk there & back!!! I can get skinny????? hahaha, that won't happen because my daughter will feed me when I get there!
Anyway.....that is a little glimpse into my world. Have a restful weekend!
So I'm going to try to break it down into categories if I can.
Home: I've been trying to stay home as much as I can. Home is my sanctuary. The last few months my job has been very stressful and very overwhelming. This may seen funny to some people, considering I only work part time (20 hours), but it's the type of work I do.
So we haven't been running around on the off days and we've mostly been staying put in the evenings.
Work: Where do I start? For the longest time I worked my 20 hours in 2 days. In April it changed to 20 hours in 4 days. Then circumstances arose that have made the last few months with my client very hard to deal with. I'm hoping that we have peaked at the worst of it and that we are going to get calm again. This week has been the first good week in months. I would love to cut back to 10 hours a week, but I just don't see that happening right now because staffing needs are so great.
Garden: I've identified another mistake I've been making since we moved here. It could be contributing to my poor gardening skills: I've been storing my shredded leaves under a couple of pine trees. (palm to forehead) Have I been screwing up the PH? maybe.
Otherwise, I'm happier with the garden than I've been since I moved here and built it. It has been a struggle to spend enough time out there. I still don't, but I've spent more than normal and the results show.
*We expanded one bed and built another one. Now all of the available space in that area is used.
*We have been collecting cardboard and lining the paths and putting down straw, so weeds are less. * It has been a dry summer here in this part of Maine and I water each day, but I know it's not enough and I have even begun to water less because if the dryness continues I don't want my well to draw down.
*We did plant a row of high bush blueberries & the raspberry row we planted last year gave us tons of pickings!
*summer squash seems to be a bust again this year. There are just not enough bees in the middle of the woods. I've planted a lot more flowers, but it's not enough. So I either have to be a bee keeper or pollinate the plants myself. I don't see either one happening in the near future so I will just buy my squash from the farmer down the road.
* I've grown some greens to feed the chickens, but I've been shopping the farmers market to feed me!
Family: Our family is expanding! Grand baby #7 will be coming along in February! Joe & Luke will be welcoming a new brother or sister.
AND our daughter and son in law are buying a piece of land 2 miles from my house, on my road, and I am beyond happy about this! I can walk there & back!!! I can get skinny????? hahaha, that won't happen because my daughter will feed me when I get there!
Anyway.....that is a little glimpse into my world. Have a restful weekend!
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
social media = a distracted life
I signed out of facebook a week ago. (deactivated)
I signed back in last night, looked around for about two minutes, and promptly signed back out. (deactivated)
Now, to be fair, I have another facebook account that only has three friends on it. My daughter and two daughter in laws. We use it to do bible study. So, I can peek at pics of my grandchildren (which I don't really need to because they live right here) but not click like, not comment. The downside to this is that the sidebar of trending topics is still there screaming a few lines of wordly filth at me.
What I've noticed this past week is that I'm praying more. Now that's a biggie!!!!
My thoughts are clearer and I feel a lot calmer. Reading all of that stuff on facebook world was causing me to have a jumbled head and an anxious heart.
I've already begun to fill up a notebook with future blogging posts and topics for posts to ponder.
I had accomplished a ton of stuff in the past week as far as my crafting, home organizing, gardening, and chickening go.
To sum it all up: I feel soooooo much better!!!!
Am I abandoning facebook? No.
Am I going to stay away longer? Yes
Am I going to unfollow everything? Yes
Will I clean up my friends list? it's already in pretty tight shape, so I don't know.
I've been listening to Rich Mullins on Pandora Radio.
I wrote this line from a song down in my bible study notebook:
Save me from those things that might distract me
the song goes on to say, I think:
take them away and purify my heart
this is the goal.
I signed back in last night, looked around for about two minutes, and promptly signed back out. (deactivated)
Now, to be fair, I have another facebook account that only has three friends on it. My daughter and two daughter in laws. We use it to do bible study. So, I can peek at pics of my grandchildren (which I don't really need to because they live right here) but not click like, not comment. The downside to this is that the sidebar of trending topics is still there screaming a few lines of wordly filth at me.
What I've noticed this past week is that I'm praying more. Now that's a biggie!!!!
My thoughts are clearer and I feel a lot calmer. Reading all of that stuff on facebook world was causing me to have a jumbled head and an anxious heart.
I've already begun to fill up a notebook with future blogging posts and topics for posts to ponder.
I had accomplished a ton of stuff in the past week as far as my crafting, home organizing, gardening, and chickening go.
To sum it all up: I feel soooooo much better!!!!
Am I abandoning facebook? No.
Am I going to stay away longer? Yes
Am I going to unfollow everything? Yes
Will I clean up my friends list? it's already in pretty tight shape, so I don't know.
I've been listening to Rich Mullins on Pandora Radio.
I wrote this line from a song down in my bible study notebook:
Save me from those things that might distract me
the song goes on to say, I think:
take them away and purify my heart
this is the goal.
Sunday, August 7, 2016
being responsible with alcohol
When I was growing up there was a shelf in the kitchen that served as the "bar" It was loaded with alcohol at all times. Whenever company came drinks were dispensed. It then grew into daily drinks by our parents of their favorite spirits: mint creme and amaretto, as I recall. I don't remember beer being a staple, but I have memories of it being around and sips offered to children in the summer.
It is then surprising to me that only three out of six children grew into having problems with addiction; either at some point in their lives, or for their entire life to date. The lack of parental guidance in all areas of life combined with the free acceptance of drinking alcoholic beverages on a regular basis played a significant part in the total dysfunction of the family.
Now I get personal. I didn't drink anything alcoholic until I was eighteen years old. I did not then go overboard and party like a crazy person, but alcohol was a pretty steady part of my life for the years that followed. Looking back on my life now I can clearly see how I used alcohol to handle the stresses of life. Hard day at work: Have a drink! Difficult day at home with the kids? Have a drink! And I'm talking about beer or wine here. Seems innocent enough to just take the edge off a little, doesn't it?
At some point I began to hear God speaking LOUDLY to my heart: "Karen, you have a pattern of reaching for a drink when you have a stressful day. You are turning to alcohol instead of turning to Me." I also continually heard Him saying "I want something different for your family."
That is when I made the decision that no alcohol would be kept in the house or consumed in front of the children. Pretty extreme. But necessary, and I have never regretted that decision. When the kids grew up I loosened the reigns a bit because they had made it through the teen years without developing bad habits.
I now wish that I had kept the same strict guidelines for a longer period of time. I now keep some alcohol in my house but I rarely to never have a "stress drink". When I do I recognize it and acknowledge it as wrong behavior and worthy of re correcting.
There is no daily drinking in my home and usually weeks go by without an alcoholic drink. But it is a tightrope walk and I must walk in a responsible, careful manner. I enjoy an occasional beer or a glass of wine, or a cocktail. But that is the key word right there: occasional.
It is when it becomes a regular feature of your life, even one beer every day may indicate a problem.
What is more important is what message we are sending to our little ones. Do we want them to think that drinking beer every day is okay? Its not and I don't want them to grow up thinking that.
Having an occasional drink while not in the presence of children is okay. It's called self control and its called responsible parenting and grand parenting.
It is then surprising to me that only three out of six children grew into having problems with addiction; either at some point in their lives, or for their entire life to date. The lack of parental guidance in all areas of life combined with the free acceptance of drinking alcoholic beverages on a regular basis played a significant part in the total dysfunction of the family.
Now I get personal. I didn't drink anything alcoholic until I was eighteen years old. I did not then go overboard and party like a crazy person, but alcohol was a pretty steady part of my life for the years that followed. Looking back on my life now I can clearly see how I used alcohol to handle the stresses of life. Hard day at work: Have a drink! Difficult day at home with the kids? Have a drink! And I'm talking about beer or wine here. Seems innocent enough to just take the edge off a little, doesn't it?
At some point I began to hear God speaking LOUDLY to my heart: "Karen, you have a pattern of reaching for a drink when you have a stressful day. You are turning to alcohol instead of turning to Me." I also continually heard Him saying "I want something different for your family."
That is when I made the decision that no alcohol would be kept in the house or consumed in front of the children. Pretty extreme. But necessary, and I have never regretted that decision. When the kids grew up I loosened the reigns a bit because they had made it through the teen years without developing bad habits.
I now wish that I had kept the same strict guidelines for a longer period of time. I now keep some alcohol in my house but I rarely to never have a "stress drink". When I do I recognize it and acknowledge it as wrong behavior and worthy of re correcting.
There is no daily drinking in my home and usually weeks go by without an alcoholic drink. But it is a tightrope walk and I must walk in a responsible, careful manner. I enjoy an occasional beer or a glass of wine, or a cocktail. But that is the key word right there: occasional.
It is when it becomes a regular feature of your life, even one beer every day may indicate a problem.
What is more important is what message we are sending to our little ones. Do we want them to think that drinking beer every day is okay? Its not and I don't want them to grow up thinking that.
Having an occasional drink while not in the presence of children is okay. It's called self control and its called responsible parenting and grand parenting.
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