If the shoe fits…

 

 

homemaking a-z

 

Conny was actually tagged by Sandra, but I thought it looked like fun too—so here we are!

 

 

Aprons - Y/N If Y what does your favorite look like?

Yes, if I think about it before I dust my shirt with flour.  My prettiest apron came from Emilie, so I save it for special occasions.  My down-and-dirty apron I’ve had for years.  It features a rustic scene of a French farmer & his wife complete with critters, a cow of course!  I finally adapted the fit a few years ago after not wanting to wear it because of the neck strap.  {I’m a little OCD about my neck sometimes}  I did the bold thing, cut the neck strap and tied it to each waist tie – so it now criss-crosses my back.  Happy me.

Baking - Favorite thing to bake?

This is almost like choosing a favorite hymn.  What’s not to bake?  Breads, rolls, cookies, cakes, even pies…

   

 

Clothesline - Y/N

I wish, but currently No Clothesline.  We are still under construction, we live on gravel, we have frequent strong aromas in our countryside air = nuff said?  But reminiscing, the clothesline was one of The Best Things about the first house we owned twenty years ago.  We even had one in the basement laundry room for rainy days and cold weather.  {thanks to original home owners}

 

Donuts - Have you ever made them?

Yes, but maybe just donut holes.  Which works just fine for me.  It’s been a long time though.

 

Everyday - One homemaking thing you do everyday?

Cook, I suppose.  Ought to do a little or a lot of cleaning and de-cluttering every day…

 

Freezer - Do you have a separate deep freeze?

Yes, we have two – an upright as well as a chest freezer.  {And two refrigerators with freezers.}

 

Garbage Disposal - Y/N

No, not here.  Actually we haven’t had a garbage disposal for a long, long time.  Probably only in a couple of the houses we’ve lived in over the years of married life.

 

Handbook - What is your favorite homemaking resource?

Along with good friend Marianne and my mom, probably my Better Homes & Gardens Cook Book.   I guess that tells you which room I make our home in.  ;-)

 

Ironing - Love it or hate it?

To quote Sandra: “HA, if you know me at all, you know the answer to this one.” 

When I was young, I thought ironing was fun.  My mom let me practice on my dad’s hankies.  Let’s just say, if all I had to iron today were hankies …and a steady stream of videos to watch or books on audio, I could probably learn to enjoy it again.  8-)

 

Junk drawer- Y/N - Where is it?

Yes, we have always had a junk drawer.  Why is that?

 

Kitchen - Color and decorating scheme?

Blue.  I am a blue sort of girl.  So I decided years ago to adopt my mother’s kitchen feature of a Danish blue plate collection.  I’m a good Norwegian still with off-white walls through most of the house.  {eyes roll}  Still determining what flavor of farmhouse we are going for in this house – open to dining area and living room makes me want smooth transitions between the different areas…. Someday we’ll have window trim, and then I’ll have to get to do something better with the curtains and such.

 

But I also like a pop of fun colors!

 

Love - What is your favorite part of homemaking?

I love to cook/bake, but there’s so much satisfaction in sewing and crafting something that we can enjoy a bit longer before it’s gone.

 

Mop - Y/N

Yes, love my Norwex dry & wet mop system.  {but yes, I could use both of them a bit more often}

 

Nylons - Wash by hand or in washing machine?

I wear them as little as possible ;-)  so I just rinse by hand.

 

Oven - Do you use the window to check on things or do you open the door?

I open the door.  Yes, it has a window, but I can’t see well enough through it any more after 18+ years.

 

Pizza - What do you put on yours?

I enjoy sausage & mushrooms or ‘supreme’ {with green pepper & onion added} or just extra cheese usually.

 

Quiet - What do you do during the day when you get a quiet moment?

Hmm, probably check email etc.  Or hide away with a good book.  Quick naps are a welcome respite too.

 
Recipe Card Box - Y/N

Yes.  But I prefer using my 3-ring binders of recipes in plastic sleeves.

 

Style of house

Eclectic?  Lived in.  Traditional but not formal…

 

Tablecloth and napkins - Y/N

No, not that we use.  

 

Under the kitchen sink - Organized or toxic wasteland?

Let’s just call it semi-organized. 

 

Vacuum -  How many times per week?

Well, the laminate floor needs something every day, if not multiple times each day.  But if I’m using the Norwex, I can leave the vacuuming for once a week.  I’m really not that regular or consistent about it though.  And the bedroom carpets…?

 

Wash - How many loads per week?

Six to eight.  or ten.  or more?  Depends on how many are home from college or who’s been working outside or going through the creek or cleaning the garage or their bedroom… :-)

 

X's - Do you make a daily to do list and check it off as you do things?

Sometimes.  And sometimes I even make one halfway through a productive day, just so I can cross things off a list  ;-)  

Maybe I should have titled this True Confessions of an Underachiever?

 

Yard - Y/N - Who does what?

Flowers and shrubs are my ‘babies’  tho I do enlist help.  Two years of drought with new trees required lots of man-hours of watering from all of us, so this year has been easy on that account.  The Cattleman is still the chief gardener in training, but the girls are great help—the Popper just picked a couple quarts of green beans this afternoon – Yum!   The Popper has started running the riding mower this year too.  Abby loves to run the weed-eater.

 

Zzz's - What is the last homemaking task you do for the day before you go to bed?

Hmm… check tomorrow’s agenda and menu plan, clear off dining table if necessary or other quick tidy in the living room, lock the front door. 

a good day :-)

 

I love it when a plan comes together.

Remember this project?  And my affection for the painter’s tape that has held these photos to the wall the past many weeks?

  

 

Last week I bought frames.  Hurrah.  And was given some wunderbar advice from a distant friend… Thank you, Marianne!  So, today I decided to get the paint out of it’s hidey-hole in the basement.  And white-wash the frames into something better than before. 

Yes-sir-ree-Bob!

Trial run with first frame:  Yes!  I like it!

{frames after and before}

 

And TA-DA!!!

As Amber would say, muy bueno!

---

And, as my facebook friends already know…

• the Wisconsin Badgers beat the Iowa Hawkeyes
• the ISU Cyclones beat TCU
• and we had grilled homegrown beef for supper!

---

Oh yes, it was a very good day in Iowa.  At least in my trivial little world.

spam I am

 

Laughter is good. And sometimes cyber spam is just too funny not to share with someone.  You are the lucky winner(s).  Here’s today’s email:

 

Subject:

Belmonte introduced a daring and revolutionary style, in which he stayed within a few inches of the bull throughout the fight.

Message:

Christian association and denomination in eastern Kentucky.

Despite this, they go straight to the attack.

Other sources of funding are event sponsorships, annual donations, wind power referral fees and interest income. He also has a slight potassium deficiency.

 

{emphasis added}

 

Now back to your regular program…

Or, for something to remove the aftertaste of this pretend meat, click here to read something both helpful and funny:

“Thoughts from a Potty Break”

It is…

 

C>O>L>D>

 

from Accuweather at 10:30am…

Now: Sunny -13°
RealFeel® -46°

Today

Jan 6

Brisk and very cold Hi -11°
RealFeel -40°

 

Tonight

Jan 6

Mainly clear and very cold Lo -14°
RealFeel -40°

 

Tomorrow

Jan 7

Mostly sunny and very cold Hi 10°
RealFeel 9°

 

………………………………..

It’s almost funny.  A week ago or so –before I heard the state meteorologist explaining about the unusual direction of the jet stream—we had some kiddos here for the day.  They went outside to visit the pets and go sledding.  When Tim was talking with Josefine at supper, he asked her about her walk out to the pasture.  “We went all the way to the North Pole!”

Well, Josefine, I’m thinking the North Pole has come to us here lately!  :o

And waiting until manana to make a needed trip to the post office seems like a really good idea.

why I did not post a daybook this week

 

As I explained to a friend  late Wednesday night:

1. The Cowgirl made her 3rd photo book, which took a weeeee bit longer than the others {kept the desktop computer occupied for several days}

2. Then she made a calendar too. {surprise for me! ha ha}

2b.  And they have been searching craigslist for a puppy :o

3. I wrote The Christmas Letter.  {coming soon to a mailbox near you}

4. And found enough photos to satisfy me.

5. Got them printed in town. And bought cheap envelopes.

6. Addressed them. {some with updated addresses...}

7. And folded the letters just so. And stuffed. And stamped...

8. I made raisin cinnamon bread for a couple Christmas gifts. {and tomorrow's bfast}

9. And my brother's monthly batch of bread.  {Delivered.}

10. And cookie dough. nom nom {not a very healthy lunch}

11. I did a little treasurer work. I also cleaned off that laptop's internet history mostly... readying it for the next treasurer  :-)

12. I just played my first game of spider solitaire in how many days?

13. It's after 11 AGAIN.

14. I still have another Amazon order to make!  oh and vitamins too.

15. Did I tell you I have an active facebook account again? :p  Not much longer methinks...

16. Laundry and Wives & Daughters too.  But no ironing…

17. Stayed up TOO late Thursday night with ‘last’ Amazon orders and researching homemade stuff ~ after a loooong afternoon running and shopping in Ames, and an evening meeting.

18. Stayed up TOO late again Friday night after a day of  cooking and final gift-making and wrapping and finishing this project…

 

Soooo, it’s bedtime!  it’s bedtime! 

It’s bedtime at our house! 

There’s been singing and laughing…

Now we’re quiet as a mouse.  {shhhhh}

one thing leads to…

 

…spending most of my day online?  :o 

Oh dear.  As I told a friend this afternoon, my timing of such an indulgence is poorly timed – Tim was home today for meals since the fields were too wet to combine today.  Thankfully, the Cowgirl and the Popper pitched in at lunchtime, and we served up “dinner” then – on time even.  Almost.  Which made tonight’s smorgasbord of leftovers perfectly acceptable. {whew}

So which “one thing” started my day?

The migraine that makes me want to chop off my entire head?  Well yes, but while that settled down to a dull roar with some breakfast, I was checking in at the computer of course...

Accu-Weather ~ checking their record of our rainfall last night {Tim agreed that we got about a half inch!}

E-mail…

Deliciously Organic.net [not dot com] ~ almond flour recipes for a friend who asked.

Online banking.

Apologia’s new Jeannie Fulbright book that I must order and convince the Popper to read with me because I love them :-)  FYI, the book is cheaper at Amazon.

Amazon.  Yikes.  Must have spent at least an hour looking at various historical fiction books that are potential Christmas/New Year’s treasures.   shhhh

Whoops!  I was going to bake bread – fresh and hot in time for lunch today.  And use the treadmill.  Ahem.  Plan B: Make the chicken packets for lunch instead of supper.  And get the bread started!  And take a shower!

After lunch/dinner, I took time again to check email while bread was rising/baking.  New to me – I’ve had posts from the Nester delivered to my inbox this month… because a couple of my faithful blogger friends have joined her for a 31 Days of {whatever} Series.  Thank you, Conny!  and Jodi!

Anyway.  Reading Ellen’s story about her bathroom re-do at Nester’s led me to a wild i-net chase for decorating styles and ideas.  Eventually I came back to her own blog to read part of her 31 Days of Hope series.  Very Good.

But in between – again launching from the Nester’s – I spent time at Kelly’s blog beginning with her kitchen remodel story.  Oh my. Then her Decorating 101 posts… and more.  I want to make some back-tab drapes!  With a detour to Fieldstone Hill Design as well.  And more. And more…

The good news is that I did bake two batches of bread successfully.  And mixed up cookies too. {happy kids!}  I did deliver half the bread to my brother and drop an item in the mail and a book at the library. 

I am just a leetle overwhelmed with stuff in my brain – important stuff like Ellen’s series.  and Laura’s too.   As well as the temporal junk like draperies ad nauseum…

But tomorrow is a new day!

If I can keep my head from exploding, perhaps I’ll even post a daybook and some of the bzillion pictures I’ve now got on my camera…

Good night!

the little foxes

 

..that spoil the vines…

Is this really what the Bible is talking about?  Seems like that’s how I hear the verse quoted… the little temporal trials that we allow to rob our eternal joy now.  If so, the verse applies.  And I am guilty.

 

 

Why does this machine leave me so frustrated? 

We purchased a new printer/scanner/copier/blahblahblah last December.  Sometime this year {summer methinks} the top feeder stopped working.  Okay, whatever.  Then we couldn’t copy using the flatbed either.  :p  The scanner wouldn’t work unless the computer told it to.  If I didn’t have another printer in the other room, I’d have called HP sooner I suppose.  {Anyone else procrastinate when the job is spending hours on hold to speak with someone in India…?}

I knew I had $$ at Staples to redeem this month, and what I usually buy there is ink or paper.  Good stock of paper already, so I decided I should buy ink.  However I didn’t want to stock up on ink for a printer that was dying and irreplaceable.  So before I went shopping, I called Staples to ask what to do about this printer still under its 12-month warranty.

Since it was more than 60 days since purchase, he couldn’t replace it for me.  He gave me the phone number for HP.  After 67 minutes on the phone for their ‘free’ troubleshooting service, they had agreed I needed a replacement printer.  Hmmm, a “certified” reconditioned printer.  {fyi, “certified” sounds more like “thirty-five”  -- which had me a bit confused in the conversation.  It’s an Officejet 6700…}

Said printer arrived yesterday.  An hour or so later I had the ‘new’ printer hooked up with the original power cord and paper tray and other transferred parts…and the old one boxed up to ship.  {Soon, or I will be billed for the replacement printer.  No refunds.}  Anyway.  I saw a message “Scanner Failure” when I tried to copy something as a test.  But I thought surely after I’d jumped through the rest of the set-up hoops, it would think better of me… and work.

This is becoming a long story, eh?  Sorry.  Well, you can guess what I had to do.  After too much monkey business I called HP again.  And went through the 'free’ troubleshooting service to do a ‘partial reset’ [pretty soon I could work for HP too methinks]… while the tech hoped it would decide to work.  Not happening.  You guessed that already, didn’t you?

They will be sending yet another ‘certified’ reconditioned printer.  {No charge.  Unless I fail to return the broken printer soon enough of course.}  Ms. HP Hardware Support Supervisor assures me the next one will of course work perfectly.  I wish I had requested a coupon good for a NEW printer from my local Staples instead.  Tomorrow I will find the FedEx Store in Ames to ship the first printer… Next week I’ll have to return to FedEx to ship the second…

And hopefully that will make an end.  For at least six months?

 

Oh, here’s today’s additional joke… I opened an email this morning from HP Support with this request:

Please send us the original hardware purchase receipt (Scanned/Faxed)

Um, just how would I do that?  My printer/copier/scanner/fax machine does not work.  Oh, the irony.

# # # # #

 

Meanwhile I need to work on my response when asked how I am doing today by a service technician…  ahem. 

“Better than I deserve”

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ ~ Ephesians 5:20

school daze or travel haze…

 

No pictures right now.  And definitely nothing profound to say.

Tim & I drove Daniel out to North Carolina for his first year of college.  His classes began a week ago.  He seems to be loving it for the most part.  Especially the days he gets to the dining hall in time for breakfast or has time to sit down there for lunch instead of grabbing a carry-out to eat after 2pm.  [His Mondays and Fridays begin with class at 7am and he goes solid for 7 hours with five classes, chapel, and chorale practice… Crazy?!  Wednesdays are about the same except he doesn’t have chorale.]

We made the trip out there in two days.  The trip home in one day.  :o  Something like 16 hours of driving.  1200 miles?  30 minutes or less with Jodi in Indianapolis.  Crazy.

Today we are home again from taking Kate & Abby up to Wisconsin to their college just yesterday.  They begin their first 2-week block of classes after Labor Day.

It was SO lovely and green at Tim’s mom’s house.  And at least 10 degrees cooler.  {sigh}   Heat advisory continues here until tomorrow night…

But I am thankful to be home again.  Time for a quick nap before I make supper… for five of us.  The new normal with half of our kids in college.  Crazy.

Well okay.  One picture that Abby sent me while shopping earlier this week…

 

 

Afterthought as I see the date posted:  It’s the 21st anniversary of Tim & my engagement!  Think he’ll remember??

last Saturday {just another day in the life}

 

What is this?  the 21st century?  Well, I’m in at last – complete with a new phone with which to text my kids, hubby, and friends.  As you can imagine… it’s much like a new toy or tool that can help or sidetrack.  Whatever.  Please give me some credit for saying I did not need a smart phone.  Of course I still have another week to decide if I like this one.

 

 

Equipped with my spankin new phone… Saturday morning I woke up and thought I’d start my day by telling texting a friend about some of our Friday evening excitement {How my nephew Andy came for supper, offered his hand to Luci the dog, and she took it.  Literally.  Ouch.} 

Tim came into our room to brush his teeth while I was still busy with my phone.  So he sent me a text:

“Morning”

To which I lovingly replied:

“Kiss”

Which got him immediately talking to me instead of texting.  :D

 

For my Bible reading I chose to look up some verses Tim had shared with the kids as they prepare to head to Boston to learn and to minister.

Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.

So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

Luke 17:9-10

These are verses I’ve read before – and often think of when I’m feeling a bit put upon – or even proud of myself for what I’ve accomplished in a day etc.  Reality is I usually just need to get over myself, as they say.  And maybe I {God} knew this was going to be one of those days…

Back to my phone… to call Andy’s mom and let her know that he was still alive to the best of my knowledge, although wounded... but not by an EOD.  ahem.

Treadmill time – really hard to come by during these weeks of driver’s ed.  :-(

Empty the dehumidifier bucket…outside where the water can do my potted flowers some good.

Breakfast, check email, work on an Amazon order, shower, assist the berry pickers with their pay distribution.

We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

More phone calls re. Andy {He had posted on fb that he couldn’t move his hand!? so his mom was a leetle curious}  as I went to Ames with Daniel & the Cowgirl for their drive time with Mr. B.

Choose joy.

Ames – I needed to stop in at JCP for polos for Daniel & Kate, and the DriveTek location is now at the mall.  Oh look!  It’s Saturday morning – it’s Farmer’s Market day!  I checked it out and found some wunderbar romaine.  We ate most of the huge head for supper {after inwardly laughing at the kind seller who told me to peel off just as many leaves as I needed at a time}   Must remember to buy seed for Jericho romaine for our own garden.

Headed home without the student drivers because Kate & Abby wanted to shop at Kohls and Walmart when they picked them up instead.

Leftover pizza for lunch, dishes, laundry.  Listened to the Popper enjoying Easy Piano Classics.  Texted with the shoppers.

Asked the Cattleman & the Popper to pick strawberries.  Planted more flowers outside, watered plants.  Changed out of my sweaty clothes!  More laundry, more texting {some of the shoppers would like to be done already}.

Washed and processed first bucket of strawberries, more texting re. Sunday’s potluck – Kate’s stromboli from the freezer it is.

We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

Shoppers finally came home with famished student drivers who haven’t had any lunch.  Showed Kate the polo options from JCP.  More ‘lunch’ dishes, more strawberries.  Got shot by my hubby with his Nerf gun.  :p

Q: What’s for supper, Mom? 

A: Grumpy Mom.

Choose joy?

Sent Kate, Abby & the Cowgirl off to clean the office.  Talked to a friend on the phone about the potluck.

Online banking to restore positive account balances for the shoppers.  Read the Cattleman’s book report, more laundry and boiling water to pour on someone’s strawberry juiced shirt.

We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

Tim mowed, the Cowgirl practiced piano.  Kate helped get spaghetti on the table for supper.

Choose joy.

Read Daniel’s book report.  Found a requested email addy.  Emailed/texted to request hymn numbers for Sunday {both Kate & Abby scheduled for services}  Listened to them practice offertories.

We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

More dishes.  Removed chocolate cake from the freezer for Sunday’s dessert.  {Leftover from graduation party.  I can do that.  Cheerfully even.}

Remove a tick, clean someone’s ears with Q-tips.

Family Bible time.  Another chapter of Living Proof.  Discuss.  Send kids to bed.

Laundry.  Empty dehumidifier, this time down the unused shower drain.

Choose joy!

Went to sleep listening to Kate practice piano.

 

Note to self: I did not iron any clothes for Sunday or view the Super Moon. 

P.S.  Sunday morning I did give Daniel his first lesson on how to iron a dress shirt.

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syttende mai

 

May 17, 1814, Norway adopted its own constitution and became independent from Sweden.

Our local celebration is called Scandinavian Days {held in early June}, but that’s just because we Iowegians are so tolerant  ;-)

I don’t know any of these pretty girls, but aren’t their bunads nice?

 

My mom made little costumes for my sister and me {long, long ago} that look more like this:

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

No parades here today.  Tim is busy planting soybeans {they finished with corn yesterday – yay!}  Kate & Abby are still recovering from Wednesday’s surgeries.  The younger kids took a swim in the creek this morning ~ so I had the joy of removing a leech from the Cattleman foot.  :p  I’ve lost count of the ticks we’ve flushed this spring.  Life on the farm, eh?

when life gives you lemons…

 

…make lemonade.

When it snows in May… go sledding. 

 

The snow continued all day, although it did start to melt.

 

Today the snow continues…

 

So the Cattleman built a snowman  :)

oh the weather outside is frightful…

 

 

…is not what we usually sing in May. 

But there it is.  Snow. Wind.  On the second day of May.

 

Bullwinkle and the Jersey calves look sad {the cows are off in the far trees}.

 

 

The blooming forsythia is probably not happy either.

 

The high temp was ~80F on Tuesday; 50F yesterday; and currently 33F today.

But the weather is sure to warm up – and stay warm – one of these days.

saturday sunshine

 

 

At least at this moment (11:30am), the sun is shining!  While the rain has been most welcome, some warmer temperatures would be great too.  I’m so thankful Tim was able to seed the hay ground – and plant peas, etc. in the garden – before the rains came this week.

While I was out this week, I noticed the columbine plants in front of the house are actually GREEN and growing!  Yay, spring!

Today’s window of nicer weather will not go unused.  Tim and the Cattleman are headed out to plant the trees and raspberries that arrived this week.  Plus some asparagus that they picked up this morning …b/c Tim thought I liked it – ha ha – good joke.  I’d suggested we plant some years ago b/c I thought he liked it, but he’d said No, thank you.  [Isn’t that a hoot, Mom?!]  If it survives, we’ll be eating it …and/or selling it.

They also purchased some additional fencing supplies just for the orchard which resides in the midst of the cow’s pasture.  [color me HaPpY!]  Sooo, hopefully we can keep the cattle out of it this year – and not have to replant trees again next year.  ;-)

The Cowgirl and the Popper continue their efforts at purging their collection of STUFF in their room.  They all but emptied the room yesterday while they vac-ed and mopped the floor.  Now they are sorting through their boxes to keep what they love –and give way or throw away the rest.  Time-consuming {and not helpful in accomplishing school work}, but worthy – and hopefully it will help them think twice about saving  every little scrap of ‘treasure.’  :D

The Computer Geek {aka Daniel} is busy with the ACT today.  Abby & I will pick him up in a couple hours.  After we run a few errands… so we should have been on our way to Ames before now!

masterpiece {the king's singers}

This is some of what's rattling around in my head this week... so thought I'd share with y'all of course  ;-)
{especially for you, Christine, if you're reading}



Enjoy!  :D

if I still had an active account at fb…

 

my current status would be…

 

My floors upstairs are almost all clean.  As in vacuumed and wet-mopped.  Thank you, Norwex.

The girls are still in the garage cleaning.

And yes, the kitchen door to the garage is locked. 

marvel not

 

…if the world hate you.  1 John 3:13

We are reading through the epistles of John this month {1-3 John} along with Proverbs.

John wrote to his fellow believers …For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. 2 John 2

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 John 4

Do we … have we… have I demonstrated that the Truth lives in me?  People in our world need the Truth so desperately.  Are we walking in truth?

“It's also increasingly apparent to me that our real problems are not political, but spiritual. Both parties have failed to acknowledge that. Democrats have not wanted to even acknowledge the need for God in our public institutions, but sadly, many of the Republican leadership will acknowledge God, but not because they believe we should be humble before Him, but to use God in our speeches and platforms. We wear our love of Israel like a badge of courage but on the issues of life and marriage too many of our leaders are more like lambs than Lions of Judah.” ~ Mike Huckabee {via facebook}

Lots of random thoughts going through my head since last night when my hubby informed me that President Obama appeared to be winning this election….

Wondering if this is how God will show His mercy? I have never liked Mitt Romney, but I voted for Paul Ryan – and his running mate – yesterday.  In hopes of defeating Obama.  Four years ago, I couldn’t bring myself to vote for McCain.  This time I voted for the slower track to our nation’s demise. 

With the idea of God’s mercy (along with a caveat), the song “Blessings” also comes to mind this morning…

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things.

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise…

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise.

 

Verse of the Day from Bible Gateway:

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” -1 Timothy 2:1-2

 

Do our comfortable lives need stirring up?  Is persecution the only way to strengthen our commitment to Christ?

 

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. ~ John 9:4

 

Work, for the night is coming,
Under the sunset skies;
While their bright tints are glowing,
Work, for daylight flies.
Work till the last beam fadeth,
Fadeth to shine no more;
Work, while the night is darkening,
When man’s work is o’er.

 

[graphic from Ann Voskamp via a facebook friend]

 

Another hymn that came to mind this morning  ~

Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.

Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.

Thy Word commands our flesh to dust,
“Return, ye sons of men:”
All nations rose from earth at first,
And turn to earth again.

A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.

The busy tribes of flesh and blood,
With all their lives and cares,
Are carried downwards by the flood,
And lost in following years.

Time, like an ever rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.

Like flowery fields the nations stand
Pleased with the morning light;
The flowers beneath the mower’s hand
Lie withering ere ‘tis night.

Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while troubles last,
And our eternal home.

 

 

He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

10/11/12

10.11.12

AKA ~ October 11, 2012 ~

Just have to post with that sort of fun date going on today!  : )

Of course, if we lived outside the US, we'd have to wait for the 10th day of November.  But we will all agree -- without confusion -- when it's the 12th day of the 12th month.

Okay, whatever.   Shall we move on?


Unrelated to today's date, here are a few pictures from my camera to liven this post up a bit...

Two weeks ago when the Cattleman was cleaning up his garden, he found a couple melons that looked worth tasting.  Somewhat disappointing in reality, but that's hopefully a lesson learned that a garden must be watered more often.  And harvesting fruit before a hard frost is always a good idea.

The Popper learned something about the power of the sun ~ and how to focus that power using a magnifying glass  ~ to melt some chocolate.  We tried to start this dry corn leaf on fire, but it might have been too late in the day.  And since we're still under an open burn ban, it's probably a good thing.  Although I was prepared with a bucket of water nearby.

Someday this shall be a mighty oak, but for now I'm just glad it's still alive with potential to provide a good splash of color every autumn.  And eventually a bit of summer shade.  The picture is a bit blurry because the prairie breeze is a-blowing today.

And here's a colorful maple that I pray will also survive ...despite the cats who've attacked it this summer...  Seriously?

And the pretty asters are in bloom  : )

fast & furious

 

No, I’m not angry. 

Sylvia at Christian HomeKeepers Network has designated October for some Fast & Furious Fall Cleaning!  Since I’ve been on a rampage in September to catch up on the last six months or so, I’m choosing to pay attention to those who would encourage my efforts at cleaning something every day.  I’ve been ignoring my FlyLady emails, but today I did read this week’s sneak peek.  They are having a Super Fling this month, and the ‘habit of the month’ is paper clutter.  Well, that’s just too good to resist.  So count me in!  {at least for this morning}

Instead of beginning in the dining room today, I started with my kitchen.  The toaster begged to be emptied, so I started there.  Which led to wiping down the rest of that counter.  And I cleaned the sink as I washed b’fast dishes.  And decided I should wipe the counter all the way to the fridge.  Oh, and do the top of the fridge and stove hood.  Ugh, and since I cleaned the sink and the dish drainer, I should really try to dust out the window area above the sink.  Then, I knew I needed to vacuum too.  While I was vacuuming, the light hit the cupboard door/drawers on the island, and I saw drips of something… watermelon juice?  Who knows, but after putting the vac away, I started wiping/scrubbing the fronts of cabinet doors/drawers throughout the kitchen.  And wondered why I bothered to shower this morning before breakfast!

Well, laundry is switched, it’s time for lunch …and piano lessons… {gotta go!}

But if you’re looking for something less strenuous to read, check out Jodi’s October series on essential oils.  Or Sarah’s suggestions for a book club.

Hoping for a daybook sort of post later… But if you see a zombie in the grocery store this afternoon…