daybook 7/27/2013

 

For today, Saturday, July 27, 2013 

 

Outside my window...  sunshine and cool, cool air  ~ 55F when I called a while ago.  Yes, the windows are open!

Hearing... birds twittering {because that’s what birds do!  Who decided people should too?}

Pondering...  how soon to wake our sleeping beauties and gents, what we should accomplish this morning while Tim is at work?

Praying...  for Rachel who is in Brazil to assist with an English immersion camp; for Jon (& his mom) as he leaves for boot camp tomorrow; for Kate to get healthy and ready to travel to the Philippines; for Mary recovering from cataract surgery; for Conny who is moving today! 

Thankful... for two inches of rain Monday evening {and that most of our corn is still standing after the winds that came with the rain}

Creating...  too many lists

Going...  to the treadmill soon

Reading...  the Bible – Acts; What Do I Know About My God? by Mardi Collier; Smart Organizing by Sandra Felton; Daniel’s new book for school, Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome; Abby wants me to read her copy of It’s Not That Complicated.

Looking forward to...  seeing one of our former college boys and his family tomorrow 

In the kitchen...  leftovers of last Sunday’s lasagna, Thursday’s meal out at Hickory Park, and last night’s grilled burgers & brats.  Maybe I don’t need to cook tonight at all?

Around the house... the living room is still tidy in preparation for last night’s guests  :-) 

The Mother Load... Yes, I still have ironing to do.  And new assignment sheets to revise/print/fill out  :-\  Yesterday I conquered the laundry – Kate & Abby have been shopping at Good Will, so there are a dozen or so ‘new’ sweaters air drying in the basement

One of my favorite things...  strawberry ice cream ~ and last night it was homemade! 

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

Shopping, shopping…

Monday ~ farm picnic {which happily moved indoors when the rains came}

Berry pickers worked a few longer days at the Patch.

Last classes of driver’s ed!  Yay!

The vet was here twice to work cows with AI.

Tim started laying out and digging holes for the garage deck.

   

Shopping, shopping, shopping…

Family birthday dinner with my folks before the older kids start leaving the nest for the fall semester.

and next week…

Monday is Daniel’s social day {lunch with youth pastor, afternoon with a friend, evening with Sunday school class} in addition to shopping a bookstore, more shoes, and fabric…

Tues ~ orthodontist for Abby and perhaps an early birthday party at home for Daniel?

Pack Kate’s bags and transport her to Wisc to travel to the Philippines with college group.

Daniel & Elisabeth have their driving tests with Mr. B.

Friday & Saturday are ‘tax-free’ shopping for shoes and clothes, so that means more shopping for school clothes for Daniel and an annual supply of jeans for my guys…

A peek into my world... 

       

Contrast between a maple tree that looks like it’s already October and the Cowgirl’s blooming  hydrangea

Growing melons in an earth box this year {as well as in the garden and the orchard}

 

~.~.~.~.~

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

a shower

 

Psalm 147

Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.

The Lord doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.

Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.

He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion. For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee. He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.

He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly. He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.

He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them.

Praise ye the Lord.

 

    

daybook 7/17/2013

 

For today, Wednesday, July 17, 2013 

 

Outside my window...  tall but thirsty corn that’s begun to tassle

Here’s a baby ear that shows a lot of promise… if…

                                       

{hot & muggy again today ~ according to the bank time/temp it’s already 83F at 8:30am}

 

Weather Update:  At 9:30am the bank said 86F.  Now at 11:15am they say 91F.  AccuWeather says it’s 90F with a RealFeel of 101F. 

Yep, it’s hot.  Time for a shower and a snack of  frozen blueberries.

 

Hearing... air conditioner and fan

 

Pondering...  how to fit in everything we need/want to do yet this month, while we are a complete family at home

 

Praying...  for much-needed rain {we received a few tenths a week ago}, for wise decisions amongst all the busyness, friends who need work or healing, newborn babies, much more

 

Thankful... for air conditioning! 

 

Creating...  another large pile of discards; assignment sheets for a new school year?!

 

Going...  to buy groceries later today.  Um, yeah, after the heat index nears 100F?

 

Reading...  the Bible – Acts; What Do I Know About My God? by Mardi Collier; Smart Organizing by Sandra Felton

 

Looking forward to...  making cherry turnovers for Tim soon {Kate & I decided her crust from yesterday’s raspberry tart would be perfect for them!}

 

In the kitchen...  chicken baking now to use in chicken salad tonight; leftover spaghetti sauce will be a lunch option

Kate, Abby, and the Cattleman picked berries and cherries on Saturday after work.  As in, over 20 pounds of cherries and maybe 12 or more pounds of blueberries [and a few raspberries]

    

    

             

                                                       

That’s a whole-lotta washing and pitting, but that cherry pie was fantabulously delish!

{warning:  many more food pictures to be revealed here today}

 

In the learning rooms suburban... still training student drivers 

 

Around the house... extra chairs at the table and a pack-n-play in the basement for this week’s visitors as we celebrate the birth of their brother  :-)

    

 

The Mother Load... must spend some time watering trees in the yard today.  Tim & boys watered the orchard again last night, and they will water the garden today.   Meanwhile I did finish Abby’s transcript and iron many many shirts.  Also booked a room for part of our trip to NC.  More old schoolwork to catch up and prepare for a new year to start in just three weeks!

 

Something fun to share... 

Kate’s raspberry tart

    

 

 

Also, if you are in the market for a photo book, Shutterfly’s current Friends & Family sale is a good one! 

Use code FRIENDS50 for 50% off!  (through July 24)

Not to be left out, Picaboo also has a 50% off code today through July 20: SANDCASTLE

 

A favorite quote for today...

As Julie is wont to say,

When you do stuff, stuff gets done. 

Seems appropriate for my procrastination with Abby’s transcript. 

And the ironing.  Always the ironing.

 

One of my favorite things... 

My new pink knock-out rose

 

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

Spending my mornings at home while Kate works at the Berry Patch and the rest are busy at VBS

The vet was here Monday to work with the cattle {back again next week… all part of AI process}

One-call-digger-hotline guy was here yesterday to mark phone and electric wires where Tim wants to build a deck next week {wide walk way along house from garage door to front of garage}

Today – groceries and church

Tomorrow last year’s calves are to go to market, and maybe I’ll join Tim for a seed corn company luncheon?

Get together with friends Friday night??

In between, there’s usually laundry and dishes to wash (and iron!), bills to pay, and dirt and s.t.u.f.f. to expel from our home.  Cookies to bake for Sunday’s VBS final program.

 

A peek into my world... 

One of Daniel’s souvenirs from the trip to Boston – his pillow case did not survive the pillow fights!

 

  And finally…

{ { { More of Kate’s handiwork } } }

Cherry bars, brownies {supposed to be chewy gooey like a box mix – but there’s nothing that beats Perfect Brownies}, and apple muffins for today’s breakfast

                 

~.~.~.~.~

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

daybook 7/8/2013

 

For today, Monday, July 8, 2013 

Outside my window...  hazy sunshine and crunchy ‘lawn’ 

{hot & muggy – at 11am it’s 84F with a RealFeel of 95F, according to AccuWeather}

Hearing...  washer and dryer working

Pondering...  how to cook supper …without cooking

Praying...  for much-needed rain …without hail; for Daniel to pass his driving test this week.

Thankful... for safety and learning opportunities the kids had to/from/in Boston

Creating...  goals for my days this week

Going...  to catch up with the ironing, my nemesis

nem·e·sis [nem-uh-sis]  noun, plural nem·e·ses [nem-uh-seez]

1.something that a person cannot conquer, achieve, etc.: The performance test proved to be my nemesis.

2.an opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome.

Reading...  the Bible – finished John this morning

Looking forward to...  seeing more pictures, hearing more stories about the Boston trip

In the kitchen...  chicken enchiladas?  I should thaw some roast beef perhaps {graduation leftovers}.   I could be happy to eat Tim’s grilled burgers every day.  ;-) 

I need to revise my July menu plan… and buy groceries full-scale again.  :-)

In the learning rooms... the Popper was actually bored enough last week to start next year’s studies – one day of language class anyway  ;-)

Around the house... friendship bracelets with embroidery floss, new Sugar Creek Gang books the Popper bought from Amazon last week, the travelers’ bedrooms are loaded with clean laundry

The Mother Load...  finish Abby’s transcript {still!  must be time to move it up my priority list}, sewing flannel blankets, de-cluttering,  ironing :p

But… {toot, toot goes my horn}  this morning I not only cleaned our bathroom right down to the floor and up to the exhaust vent, but I washed off the tops of the toaster oven and fridge too!  I am Super Woman, eh?  Anything to avoid my ironing…

 

Something fun to share... 

Just what my hubby needed for Father’s Day…

       

a new tool and a barn!

 

A favorite quote for today...

Besides, Sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, Sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave…

Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!

Patrick Henry, March 1775

Read the speech here! 

 

One of my favorite things... 

flannel blankies

            

 

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

sending the kittens to new homes – yay!

               

 

A peek into my world... 

    

Thanks to our friend Gary, we now have carpeted stairs!

 

~.~.~.~.~

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

an Independence Day Message

…from Hobby Lobby

crop report

 

April 27 ~ We planted our corn earlier than many in our area, but it survived the snow and floodwaters in May…

 

…and for now is thriving.

June 21 ~

 

June 24 ~ Tim took this pic with his phone a week ago with the Popper standing in the field.

Two days later it was up to Tim’s shoulder in that spot, which is about the top of the Popper’s head.  The corn grew about a foot in two days!

 

One week later - today, July 1, here’s the Popper again… holding a red dish towel above her head so that you can see where she’s at  :-)

Here she is!

 

Unlike last year, it’s been a good year to live on high ground.  Lord willing, we will harvest a good crop of corn in a few months!

 

Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:

Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.

Psalm 147:7-8

Boston–travel days

 

Did I mention that Abby & Daniel each got cell phones recently?  Not only can they call, they can text and they can take pictures… and send them.  To anyone and everyone in their contact lists.

Our little Verse phones can’t quite accommodate all the data after a day or two of steady texting.  So I have begun the task of forwarding them to my email, so that I can then delete them from my phone’s memory.

A blog post or two is inevitable when I have so many photos and updates in my hands  computer.  ;-)

The teens and their fearless leaders left from Cambridge Wednesday morning with enough snacks to feed them for a week possibly.  Then they met our pastor and his wife in Illinois for lunch as they were traveling home again from a conference in Michigan.  Amber thought she’d encourage and feed the hungry teens with another goody bag for each.

See?

         

Daniel was impressed with the sight of several multi-trailer semi loads traveling down the highway with them.  Not so impressed with fast traffic:  “Insanity is 4 lanes of 70 in a 55 zone...”

         

Abby sent a few more pics/texts than her brother…

…beginning with second breakfast in the van ~ with muffins from Jamie and cinnamon rolls from Mrs. Ray

            

More like ‘tweeting’ as one recipient said  :-)

Here she had recited James 3 – Yay, Abby!

Lunching in Peru, modeling Jessie’s sunglasses,

         

and highlighting their progress across the country {Hi, Jodi!}

 

Day Two of paying tolls, fueling the vans {exciting stuff!}

   

She said they crossed the Erie Canal and lunched in Buffalo, NY.

On through the mountains of New York! 

   

 

Kate didn’t send as many pictures ~ just a couple to show the girls were still smiling and to say hello to the Popper.

         

 

They arrived safely and enjoyed a late supper at the Edmondsons.

Boston baked beans, of course.