June is flying by {bye-bye}… and gone

 

Week One:  dentist appointments, bought file cabinet and full bolt of denim from swappers, mending with the City Slicker, Tim took Diamond Bright to the butcher, orthodontist appointments, a looong afternoon/eve of shopping with all five girls,  sewing culottes for the Cowgirl, baked bread, more shopping, more shopping (wally-world three days in a row?! plus multiple grocery stores), Tim’s nephew Matt and family stopped in for supper on their travels, Tim bought a ‘new’ car for our kids to drive, more baking, a visit from an out-of-state childhood friend, bonfire (see pics), killer migraine returned to lurkdom, and then we shipped via van our two new world travelers…

But via the camera the week looked like this:

Kittens for sale {still have one of these plus her black-haired brother, Conny!}

 

Encouragement from Tim while on our five-hour? shopping trip…

 

To pack laundry soap for my overseas travelers, I bought and emptied travel-size mouth wash bottles.  Ha!

 

Washington says, Hello!

 

 

Facebook status reveals… Odometer reading on June 3:  290,071
Less than 10k to reach the Suburban's lifetime goal!

 

Remember this lovely bouquet from Bev?

Here are a few bonus photos from Bev’s phone, thanks to facebook – It was fun to reconnect with her.  And I think she enjoyed her baked goodies as well as a glimpse of Peggy the calf, named as requested for Bev’s mom!

 

 

Roasting hot dogs with our Little friends…

With a stick race down the creek

and other fun adventures!

 

Week Two:  After delays enroute to Chicago and a delayed departure from Chicago, the teens and their leaders arrived in Paris on Monday morning for a day of touring.

 

At home, I started a Stupid Diet {aka the Fast Metabolism Diet} and became Grumpy Mom {okay, grumpier than usual?}   Commence the mind-boggling feat of cooking for the family and cooking totally different for me. 

Which also meant when I baked up this cake for Emma, I did not taste a single drip or crumb of cake or frosting.  Horrible.  You would be grumpy too.

Abby was helping with something here, but her curtain of hair hid her beautiful face.  I think we were cooking soup.

 

This.  This was delicious on day three/phase two of the Stupid Diet.  But cutting the cooked turkey bacon was the end of this cheap kitchen shears.

Unfortunately I also learned in the midst of day three that no sugar = brain fog on day three.  So I went to Ames to order A Beka at a hotel meeting and to buy groceries at three stores anyway.  And snacked on a Larabar which was NOT on my food map for the day.  But I came home and returned to diet obedience for supper.  And continued to apologize to all for being grumpy.

A bonus I should admit was getting a massage on Friday because I had to.  According to the Stupid Diet, which also has exercise requirements for each phase.

Saturday the kids-at-home went to Cambridge to walk in a parade promoting our upcoming VBS and then to volunteer at the inflatables set up for the festivities.  They were pretty keen on the tee-shirts given to volunteers…

I have a couple parade photos thanks to Angie and facebook…

Saturday at home meant friends stopping in for lunch on their way to a wedding.  Hmmm, what to serve?  I ended up grilling sandwiches panini-style, making mine with approved nitrate-free deli meat on Ezekiel bread.  But that was pretty much the end of diet obedience.  I had no time to even look at my food map, let alone follow it.  We enjoyed our lunch with friends!   And I only ate half of a tollhouse bar cookie.  ahem.

Tara also brought into our house a large pan of these.  Ree Drummond’s cinnamon rolls.  You can see what’s happening here, can’t you?!

And pie.  We had enough strawberries from our garden for a fresh berry pie so I made one.  And when we served it up after supper and sang an early Happy Birthday to Christy {Tim’s niece}, I ate some!  but passed on the ice cream.  So there.  End of Stupid Diet.  Cuz I also ate my chicken fajita in a flour tortilla with cheese and sour cream.  Yes, I probably have submission issues.  Except my hubby did raise his eyebrows and express disapproval when I mentioned attempting a restart with week two of the Stupid Diet.  So see:  Obedient wife I am.  {sorta?  I remember Elisabeth Elliot saying it’s NOT submission when you already AGREE.  So yeah.}

{insert a loud Happy Birthday to our Cowgirl!!! who celebrated on the island of Corsica}

 

I did wait for my migraine to recede a bit before I sampled the cinnamon rolls.  Then I had to ask or the recipe of course.  Pretty sure this recipe will be used sooner than might be deemed wise.  Moving on…

 

Week Three:  Both Elisabeth Elliot and my friend Jill’s father passed away on Monday, June 15.  Both lived lives worth celebrating and are enjoying the glories of heaven with our Savior!  Sadness mixed with much much joy and gratitude.

New mega batch of elderberry syrup with a jar to send an ailing friend.

 

The Cattleman’s garden looks lonely without him…

It rained enough that the Berry Patch workers stayed home on Monday… and instead the girls went to a work day at church to help prep crafts for a VBS in Kansas City. 

Tuesday, Diamond Bright came home wrapped in paper packages enough to fill our deep freeze.   But for supper we enjoyed good food at Hickory Park Restaurant with my folks who will spend most of the remaining summer in AZ (my mom had knee replacement surgery there).

photo credit – Berry Tramel

 

Another wearying Wednesday with grocery shopping in Ames, and I conclude this is not a good option for my summer routine.  {HyVee offers a Wellness Wednesday discount on many items I buy there, but a big errand/shopping day makes going back out for church in the evening more difficult}  This must have been the day I bought the red book shelf from a swapper in Ames on the same trip.  hee hee

Abby, the City Slicker and the Popper continued to work at the Berry Patch as many long mornings as possible between rainy days.  Strawberry season was cut short by the abundance of rain, but the berries we did enjoy were mighty delicious.  Abby & the CS also have continued to volunteer at One Heart Equestrian Therapy on Thursday eves.  Tim and crew have made it to a few of the Friday night church softball games.

Met up with the honey guy to buy another gallon.  Made a double batch of strawberry jam.  Multiple connections with my local sources for eggs.  Wish I knew how many dozens we’ve consumed in a month.

We concluded week three of June with a really busy Saturday.  Kate took Mrs. M. to the airport, then shopped for wheat berries and fresh produce {among other things} on her way home.  Tim & I went north for a funeral in the morning, then picked everyone up to go south for a wedding in the afternoon. 

 

Week Four:  Father’s Day!  I stayed home on Sunday in midst of another incredible migraine {Should I mention I think I knocked my atlas out of whack within the week of our last chiropractor visit in May?  not helpful.}

Monday was somewhat better.  And a happy, exciting and crafty day!  Kate continued to work on a special Father’s Day card for Tim, and Abby started making flowers with pattern tissue paper.  An old book she hoped to use for craft paper was too old – the paper just crumbled.

 

In the evening we went to church to bring our travelers home safe and sound!  Yay!

 

The Cattleman woke up early on Tuesday ready to return to work at the Berry Patch.  The Cowgirl crawled out of her bed and back into life on the farm with sleep in her eyes – but willing to help her dad with a visit from the vet. 

Belated 17th birthday party for our Cowgirl! 

 

 

Another dentist check-up, made muffin mix, cleaned out the toaster {exciting I know}, much more laundry and cooking, babysitting…

Here’s a healthier picture to drool over.  Not quite the same is it?

 

Hello. My name is Joe, and I work in a button factory.. 

Anyone else know that song?  and wish they didn’t?

 

Abby’s got her craft going again!  Should have taken a ‘before’ pic of the ‘wreath’ constructed of cereal box cardboard.  This is up-cycling.

  

 

Just a few days to finish out the month:  singing in church, baking 100 buns for a special girl’s bday party, wishing someone had time to create a photo book to use coupons and good sales.  Began my ironing catch-up marathon with Alexander Scourby and Pauline epistles for company.  Lunch with my good friend Jill followed by VBS snack shopping – yay!  And another visit with the chiropractor closes out June. 

Whew.

the May that got away

 

…without a single blog post!

 

Revisiting the April 30 early morning photos taken by the Cowgirl…

Mmmoooooo, says Hallelujah.

C-A-T’s kittens were also born on April 30!

 

May 2 baking for a benefit auction:

Saturday also means garden work for the Cattleman and Tim – tilling for new strawberry bed I think.

 

 

May 3 – no pics of our little friend N who spent the afternoon with us while her parents took her brother on an animal adventure.

 

May 6 – the Popper and Hallelujah’s calf Hydrangea

 

 

May 8 – I attended my niece’s graduation from Iowa Central Community College.  Interesting contrast from Bible college commencement ceremonies.  :-)

May 9 – Daniel arrived safely home from N.Carolina!  {after stressing and laboring with luggage handling and baggage fees}

May 10 – MOTHER’S DAY.  We had a late lunch/early supper at my brother’s house with much of my extended family.

 

May 12 – Kate arrived home with three of her cousins {Jeremy, Andrew & Cheri}.  Cheri helped put together the strawberry shortcake.

    

 

May 13 – goofy Liberty.

 

May 16 – Planting strawberries!

 

May 18 – The cows are grazing the rye in limited sections, so that they ‘clean their plate’ pretty well!

 

Daniel and crew also helped transplant the spreading columbine from the front of the house to the NW side.   {Also accumulated several pots of geraniums for decorating graves at the cemetery for Memorial Day.}

 

 

May 19 – Bridal shower for Alexis {complete with our flourless chocolate cakes – yum – and wise advice from her Aunt Cathy}

 

May 21 – Tim hired a local guy to haul a LOT of sand and dirt from the back pasture’s sandpit for filling in the low ground and the shed.

 

Kate & I drove to Wisconsin to bring Abby home from college {She stayed for the 2-week summer school block.}  We spent the night with Tim’s sisters Janice & Mary and also got to visit with his niece Kim who lives next door.

Thursday eve was also a big decision time for the City Slicker as it was agreed by all that her Plan B for summer was to come home with us!  Friday we packed the Suburban very full of their s.t.u.f.f. and made the drive home… late.

 

May 23 – We introduced the City Slicker to extended family and friends as we attended an anniversary party for my brother and sis-in-law in Fort Dodge AND a graduation open house for sweet Emily from church in Des Moines.  The City Slicker saw lots of Iowa farm ground as we drove and drove some more… when she wasn’t napping.

 

May 25 {Memorial Day} – I think it was mostly a work-at-home sort of day, but the City Slicker also wants to help everyone to improve their volleyball skills this summer.

 

May 27 – Abby & the City Slicker helped our friend Sarah work on packing up their house as they prepared to move to temp housing on their way to a new church ministry in Missouri later this summer. 

 

May 28 – ‘normal’ Thursday routine with final piano and violin lessons for summer.

Abby & the City Slicker also went to train for volunteer work at a local horse therapy center. 

 

May 29 – They dug the net out of storage for a ‘real’ game.

 

May 30 – Piano Recital! {with a large number of students}

 

And a photo shoot with irresistible ‘perfect’ lighting.

safe travel so far!

 

They are currently ~10 minutes from landing

Note the colorful radar west of Chicago…

update on Kim

 

In addition to Sharon’s update below about surgery, please be in prayer for Kim as she celebrates her 20th birthday also next week on the 27th.  Thank you!

 

June 18, 2015 - Second Eye Surgery

Posted 6 hours ago

Kim's next eye surgery is scheduled for June 25. Surgery will be on her right eye only. The first eye surgery helped to bring both eyes into better alignment, but she has continued to tilt her head back to bring her right eye into alignment with the left. Her right eye doesn't drift up as far it did before the first surgery, but her eye surgeon feels she can tighten the muscles some more which should prevent Kim from having to tilt her head back to focus better. The surgery should also help with the double vision she still has. It is currently being controlled by diagonally cut strips of tape on her glasses. Dr. Bradfield is hopeful this surgery will eliminate the need for the tape.

I was concerned about a second eye surgery only 6 months after the first one, but since this isn't considered "invasive" surgery, it is safe to have the surgery so close to the first. This will be out-patient surgery just as the first surgery was, and with the same restrictions of no outside activity for 1 week and no strenuous activity for 2-3 weeks.

Yesterday, Kim had her Learning Rx evaluation to assess her ability to return to school. She wasn't surprised, but was quite disappointed to learn she tested in the 9th percentile for memory recall. To be successful in school, she needs to be at a minimum of 50%, and 80% is more ideal. She had good reading skills other than she reads much slower than she used to and it's hard for her to concentrate for very long. This company has had very good results with the brain injury clients they have worked with. They feel they can help Kim get the skills back that she needs for a successful return to school. The recommendation is for approximately 100 hours of training, 2 or 3 times a week with additional training done at home.

As the temperatures have been rising, we have noticed that the heat/humidity seem to bother Kim. On warm, humid days she complains of being dizzy and light-headed and tires easily if she is outside very long. She has learned to manage this by drinking lots of water and limiting her time outdoors on hot days. The ability to regulate body temperature is a result of her traumatic brain injury. The UW Hospital doctors told us brain injuries heal better in cool temperatures than in warm. Last year, when we visited Kim at Clearview Brain Injury Center, we would need to wear sweatshirts to keep from shivering. CBIC kept the facility cool for a reason.

Kim enjoys her time working with children at our public library, helping with child care at a church, riding horses for therapy, volunteering at the animal shelter, and spending time with a dear friend painting ceramics and yard art. She is more aware of her limitations and has concerns for what her future holds. She does have times of sadness when she considers that friends and siblings are able to move on with life normally and, in her mind, she isn't. Most of the time Kim has a cheerful attitude and outlook on her life. We use the sad times to remind her of where she started from and how far she has come. God spared her life for a reason - we are thankful for the gift of every day no matter what the challenges are.

Destination 2015: France

 

Time Converter

We have two kiddos traveling with our church’s youth group.  This was the year for an overseas trip for the high schoolers.  Eight teens and six chaperones left Iowa on Saturday, June 6 by van for a Sunday afternoon flight out of Chicago.  That became an adventure when a flat tire stop was lengthened by a dead battery.  Sometime after midnight they arrived at their hotel.  And that is why they left on Saturday afternoon instead of Sunday morning – Wisdom achieved by previous experience with transportation issues!

There was yet another delay with departure from Chicago which made Monday a longer day for the teens as their first tour had to be rescheduled for the afternoon.  They arrived in Paris about 8:30am I think.  They also found one of their rented vans had a smaller engine that wouldn’t allow them to travel at normal highway speed.  So after some touring along the way, they arrived at their evening destination about 10:30pm.  (Information shared by the hosting missionaries’ daughter – thank you, Michelle!)

After a few days Tim did get a brief text from our Cowgirl reporting safe arrival and that the Cattleman had a sore throat.  Oh dear.  He must have recovered quickly (looks alive in above photo from Pastor B anyway – front row center).

The following is the first email update from Pastor B we received on Saturday {which also happened to be the Cowgirl’s 17th birthday – looking forward to seeing pictures from her little party!}

Greetings from Corsica!

The team arrived last night at the Barnes. We have a had a good trip traveling through the main land of France and crossing the Mediterranean sea via ferry yesterday. Our days have been long, full of traveling, eating, site seeing, and learning about France, the Reformation & the Huguenots, and missions. It has been a fast-paced adventure. Thankfully we have not had any sickness or major injuries (a few scratches and bumps). We have been traveling in two 9 passenger vans that have work well (with a few glitches here and there). For the most part, we are following the itinerary Andrew provided for us. Today is a rest day.

Continue to pray for safety and good health. Pray for evangelism as we will be evangelizing in various cities through singing and preaching. Pray for Wanda as her sciatic nerve is causing a lot of discomfort. Attitudes and spirits have been great even though we are tired out. Pray for continued team unity.

…

Thank you for your prayers.

Pastor Doug

 

And the second received on Monday:

Corsican Trip Followers and Prayers,

We went to a church in Ajaccio yesterday. We had very nice service. The teens sang, Andrew preached, the teens sang again, the Augsburgers sang. We had a 4-4.5 hour fellowship afterwards with several courses. It was great to interact with the French people, the fellowship was sweet.  Today we are trying to go to Bastia and see the Barnes old church cite and hopefully get into the public schools to use English with the students. Pray for that to happen!

Everyone is doing great (as far as I know).

Pastor Doug

 

Today’s update:

Corsica Trip Followers:

Yesterday and today we were able to meet in the French school and meet with English classes. The students were from 5th grade to 7th grade. Yesterday we went to Bastia and saw the meeting place the Barnes have chosen to start meetings in the fall. We had a prayer meeting outside the doors. We then went to their old meeting place and toured the city some. It is a beautiful harbor with shops, ice cream shops, and cafes. We went further north to an old light house for a picnic supper. While walking to the point, Mr. Barnes helped an older woman with groceries; she then invited our entire group in for a drink; we enjoyed a refreshing drink of flavored water on her porch overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. We sang songs and Mr. Barnes was able to share some words of grace.

Today we spent two hours at the school and then after lunch took a drive up the mountain to a cascade (a waterfall). The sites were spectacular.

Please pray for Emily; she went to the doctor today to get some meds for strep.  She has been taking meds all trip, but it has reoccurred. She is actually feeling OK, just a bad sore/swollen throat. Pray for more opportunities to share the gospel through song and preaching. Pray for continued safety and that the vehicles work well. We need to install a water heater for the Barnes so pray that we can make all the French connections.  ;) 

Thanks,

Pastor Doug

daybook {times forty-five-ish} 15 JUN 15

 

How to ever catch up on this blog??  I will begin with a basic daybook as usual – and hope to fill in some gaps sooner than later…

{A throwback photo from Bev – Scandinavian Days in 1968.  My mom, sister and I are on the far left.  The local festival began in 1965, so we both celebrated our 50th this year!}

 

For today… Monday, June 15, 2015

Outside my window... light rain today {again} so the grass (& weed mix) is green, green, green – with yellow mustard and white clover.  The Cattleman’s garden is missing him.

Hearing... washer sloshing; toaster oven convention fan

Pondering... where I could put this bookshelf that is for sale on a swap.  It’s red.  It’s a bookshelf.  How can I resist when I am first in line??

Praying...

for Jill and her family – her dad will likely pass on to his heavenly home soon. 

for Denise as she begins another tougher regimen of chemo treatments this week. 

for another family in distress – what can we do to help??

for our kids overseas {more in another post if I can get it done}

for our kids at home – plus one.  We have a bonus daughter for the summer – brought her home from college along with Abby the end of May {She suggested I nickname her CitySlicker for the blog}.

 

Thankful... so far no avian flu in my family’s turkey flocks.  Stressful times to be sure.

Creating... still working on that ideal summer routine.  ha! 

Going...  to get something done this week beyond laundry and cooking from two different menus.  o.O  {Beginning with this blog post – Priorities!  ha ha}

Reading... Yeah, that.  I am still hoping to work through a pile of non-fiction books that I ought to read.  {Honestly, I gave in and picked up a couple novels from library – one of which I’ve read previously.  Duh, but I started it anyway… so must finish so that I can enjoy the happy ending.  Sigh.  And while I would normally sit and read a whole book in 24hours, I have been hard-pressed to read a chapter or two in one sitting.}

For my Bible reading, I am in the gospel of John. 

Looking forward to... our missing (traveling) kiddos coming through the door again – next week.

In the kitchen... I can smell the tea cake baking.  Yum.  Cinnamon must be like butter; it seems to make everything better.   This morning I made what turned into a triple batch of elderberry syrup {cinnamon plus cloves and ginger!}

On tonight’s menu:  creamy chicken enchiladas.  I have cooked chicken in the fridge, and I am on a serious campaign to clear out the accumulated leftovers and planned-overs and run-overs…  On that note, I have two boxes of spinach calling for use in a smoothie – to serve before or with supper hopefully.  {I wonder how it would go over if I stirred some into the enchilada filling?}

In the learning rooms... I ordered books and DVDs for next year last week!  And I still have loose ends to tie up from this past year…

Around the house...  outside are potted geraniums used at cemetery for Memorial Day that I have yet to re-pot into their permanent summer homes – waiting for combination of dry weather and time.  Inside I still have this lovely bouquet a friend delivered ten days ago… {Love me some blue delphinium—as my local florist knows!}

The Mother Load... Clean refrigerators. Prep deep freeze for beef arriving home tomorrow!  Make muffin mix, peanut butter, jam, power food chocolate and caveman cookies.  Restock wheat berries and honey.  Haul remainder of Purge Piles!  (old sewing machine and computers are GONE – yes.)  Mending.  Sewing – both book bags and clothes for Popper still await (we DID get a pair of culottes turned out for the Cowgirl before she left town, and Abby started sewing a book bag… until she ran out of bobbin thread.  And the CitySlicker and I had an afternoon of mending a couple weeks ago. – So there, take that, To Do List! ha ha)

Noticing that... weird, stupid diets make me g.r.u.m.p.y.  Or something like that.

Something fun to share...  Free shipping today at Tropical Traditions {good source for coconut oil among other things}

But this.  This still makes me laugh.  {My phone’s memory is very small, so my texts in between had disappeared by Wednesday that same week… making these two from Tim look related…}

Okay, well Abby and I thought it was hilarious.  Whatever.  Ba hahahaha.  Ahem.

 

A favorite quote for today...

When things happen which dismay, we ought to look to God, remembering that He is not taken by surprise nor can His purposes be thwarted.

Elisabeth Elliot (12/21/1926 – 6/15/2015)

One of my favorite things... pink peonies {from a friend’s yard}

A few plans for the rest of the week...

Tues – Sunny weather in forecast so girls should have berry picking work to do.  Diamond Bright (the cow) comes home again in white paper to our freezer; dinner out at Hickory Park!  Wed – Ames for groceries etc – and that fun, red shelf maybe?!  church in the evening.  Thurs – two girls have volunteer time at local equestrian therapy.  Friday night – double-header church softball for my guys.  Saturday – niece’s wedding {and hopefully wheat berry shopping while we are in DesMoines}

 

A peek into my world...

So far, two of four kittens have moved on to new homes!  {one of these plus her black-haired brother remain – Conny?? ;-) }

And a little kitchen graffiti from Miss CitySlicker…

     

 

~.~.~.~.~

Giving credit where credit is due:

While I am not linking up with anyone, you could read more weekly news posts at other blogs by following any of these links:

• Peggy at the Simple Woman’s Daybook

• Julie for adapting this daybook version as her own ‘Grasshopper Days’ ~ Perhaps I could call it the GHV Daybook. :)

• You can also find a similar weekly meme in Happy Homemaker Monday at Sandra’s

~.~.~.~.~

Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord,

that thou fulfil it. Colossians 4:17