Market Day!

I went to the farmer's market today and found these. The woman who grew them called them Pattypan's (the Flying Saucer version). How fun is this? and the round zuccini and yellow squash! I thought they were cool and I love to eat them with oil and garlic (lightly saute'd).

Martha or Mary

Yesterday in church our priest shared a different view of Martha and Mary. One that I had never seen or read about before. I have always been called Martha, to my frustration I have tried to become what I thought Mary was. Then yesterday Father's homily put a different spin on the whole thing for me.

We typically think of Martha being frustrated at her sister, Mary, for not helping in the kitchen to prepare the food for such an important guest. Women were expected to do the cooking and tending to (it's still our place but that's a whole other area I won't get into here). Mary was, instead sitting at the feet of Jesus...listening. Absorbing all He had to say. If we recall earlier on, Martha is the one who ran to Jesus when Lazurus died and said "Master he would not have died if you would have been there!" She knew who Jesus was. She already had a deep understanding of his capabilites. Mary on the other hand was sitting at Jesus feet to learn, to understand, and to go through "class" if you will, to be able to better live the life that Jesus was teaching, and of which applies even today. While Martha was frustrated at her sister, Jesus said "she has chosen the better half." Martha was more concerened with the food preperations because she already knew how awesome Jesus was. Mary on the other hand couldn't see the food prep as priority, she was in awe at Jesus' words and was learning.

I believe there is a time for hospitality and to fret over food prep, but I also believe there is a time to let it go and be obedient to learning more about Jesus. If that means the house isn't perfect and the food isn't just so, so be it. The hospitality I provide and the friendship/Christian environment is 10x more important. Balance. Something I struggle with, but am being taught by the Lord how important it is.

God's peace~

Fresh Flowers!

Yesterday I went to our local Farmer's Market (in the rain) and bought these fresh flowers, and a few other goodies. I'm going to the big market outside of Pittsburgh next week. Pittsburgh is only 45 min from us. Isn't this a hoot, we live in Ohio and in 15 min can drive through 3 states: Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

Living Simply

Yesterday I was reading a friends blog, Lindsay, and I discovered something called Freecycle. It is awesome. It's like a yard sale online, but free. The requirement is you offer things...for free and you can take things for free. Check it out http://www.freecycle.org/. I've joined the 2 in my surrounding area and am watching for a couple things I need, like a cabinet to put the rest of my dishes in until hubby can build my new ones.

This is such an awesome thing. I believe, and live it, that we should recycle as much as possible or give it to someone that can really use it. This group is just the place for some of the things I have stacked in the basement as part of our downsizing and learning to live more simply. A ceiling fan, some bar stool chairs, pictures, and a few odds and ends are going to be posted soon. What I don't post I plan on donated to the local resuce mission. How exciting to donate things that I don't use and know this will be a treasure to someone else. That is worth all the work to get the stuff there.

God's peace.

Just for you

I know we all need something to remind us to giggle now and then. This one is for you.

This is Koda, our white Boxer. I just love him, and he loves to smile!

Boxes Boxes everywhere

We're up to our eyeballs in boxes. The movers drove up on our little street and for the next few hours Chris and I were running in and out and up and down. We got a good leg workout. I've never had a home with a basement, nor have I had to go up and down stairs so much so I was one tuckered out wife.

The moving truck (no all of our stuff did not fill it only 1/2), and the helpers car. My husband is making another run inside to direct boxes.

The "hired" help. She checked off the number as they came off the truck.

She worked so hard we had to take a break, LOL.

These are the beautful Adirondak chairs that my talented husband and neighbor made for our porch. The front is embossed with the Marine Corps emblem.

Oooh, our first snag. They sure didn't make these kitchens to fit today's appliances. That's ok, it seems I might get custom cabinets out of this deal. It's not a top priority on my dear husband's list, but that's ok with me. Downsize Dee, Keep It Simple. Or as Ghandi says "Live simply so that others may simply live."

This was the next day, but I got such a kick out of the way she was inching down the stairs. It took her several minutes, step by step, but she did it. She has been such a great help.

Independence Day 2007

I got this great idea from reading a magazine called Country Woman. Through the year collect the tourist type things from truck stops or friends who have traveled all across this great nation of ours and use them to decorate your 4th of July table. Most of mine are covered, though if you click on the picture you will see my favorite. An orange from Florida, with a happy face.

We had an event today that could have been tragic, but praise God, it all turned out well. Late this afternoon, Sasha, Danielle's little 3 lb.dog, got hit by a car in front of our house. Danielle was at the curb taking out boxes and Sasha wondered into the street. She went under the car, but through the middle. When we all got to her, the driver was histerical and Sasha was stiff as a board. We had to take her to Urgent Vet Care 30 min from here and prayed over her the whole way. The vet took X-rays and said he couldn't find any internal injuries or broken bones. She got a steroid shot to keep brain swelling down, but she was fine. We pray again coming home and by Friday night at dinner she was playing and running with our 2 Boxers. She showed no signs of being hit by a car. God is so awesome. We just sit back in amazement when we remember how in shock she was and 2 days later playing tug of war with our white boxer. Just amazing what God can do.

God's peace.

Our new home

We bought a home that was built in 1929 and I think it is beautiful. I will post more pic's later. All the pic's we have now are pre-us owning, good grammer huh?


Isn't is wonderful!

The happy couple & first time home buyers...long distance

Moving Day

Chaos! Sheer Chaos. That is the best way to describe moving. "Honey have you seen the pliers?" "No check in the 3rd box down in the den." Oh the joys of moving, Praise God that He has planned all this and all we have to do is the work. Otherwise Chaos + my planning = God getting a good giggle. Take a look...

This is what we took in the U-haul, after the movers left. (one word - downsizing)

Our family at 4:30 am on the day we drove out. Okay, check out Danielle on the left and take note. I'm a morning person.

Danielle and I drove the truck, Chris drove the U-Haul towing Danielle's '71 VW...for the whole drive this was our view.

Molly in the back is not liking this car trip. She says PLEEEAAASEE let me out of this vehicle.

Koda driving the U-haul...kidding. Chris went inside so Koda decided to dream.

Okay, here ya go. 20 hours later, yes you read that correctly, 20 hours later and several stops that were a 6 ring circus we made it. Okay remember the note I told you to take earlier, check out Danielle now. Who's the night owl in the family? Not me!

God's peace.