Our recent outing to a lake

 Hello Ladies,

Recently on a low energy day, I was struggling with the process of growing into accepting that we have less energy as we get older and that I can't multitask like I used to. 

For me, I am learning I need to plan out my week a bit better and not have 2 large days of appointments and errands back to back. Some ladies can, but that's not me. 

That is my acceptance journey. Not to compare. I was told by a friend once "the moment you compare yourself to someone else, you have failed.  My journey and my life is not there's, but in comparing I put myself in a failure frame of mind."

The day before this outing I was trying to volunteer setting up for church, this was my first time. Usually I'm in the entrance. As a Deacon's wife people like to visit and check in to share how there family is. 

Since I was doing something else, people got offended that I was seemingly not interested in them. One lady got upset I wasn't giving her a hug and asking about her. Another fellow wanted to share updates of his wife and her illness. I had walked past twice saying "I'll be right back" but I was unable to. And another gal said she needed to talk with me after church and would be outside. She left before I could finish the tasks at hand. It was heartbreaking for me. A friend said "Dee, it's not your gift. Let us take care of this and you visit with the people." That was so helpful.

So this day, my husband said "come on. Get your hiking shoes on and grab a snack we are going for a drive."  I wasn't much in a place or mood to argue.

Here are a few pictures:

Taking a break, on a tiny rock.

A lady walking her dog graciously took our picture. I love bridges! Look at the clouds in the water, so pretty.

It was just enough to shift my frame of mind and I felt so much better. Just admiring how God made all of this, is enough to fill my heart. The massiveness of the sky, the colors. I just get a giggle thinking of how He created these things. 

I love to create, but don't as much as I want to. I am learning about this too. It's vital as a part of they day to have something to look forward to and create or something that brings joy. I just finished weaving a small basket I will share after I get it rimmed and stained. It's cute. I'm a basket weaver but don't do it as much as I used to. Folks here in the southwest like more of the Native American baskets rather than the traditional Colonial kind that I weave. 

I wish you a blessed day. Have you grown to accept the changes in your life and journey?  Do you have gifts that you have recognized and allow others to use their gifts for Him?

Blessings,

Dee

Wishing you a Happy 4th of July

 

Breakfast on the Veranda

I wanted to wish you a blessed and happy (and safe) 4th of July!  We are very dry here in southern Colorado as you can see by our brown yard. It crunches when we walk on it. 

God has all things under His plan, we just need to trust and pray. We have started a 9 day prayer here asking for God to provide moisture, and keep the fire fighters and emergency personnel safe. 

Breakfast Tradition on Saturday's for us is pancakes, bacon (turkey bacon for me). I also enjoy krispy kale, because I eat them for calcium. My husband has become fond of it too, so he always asks for his little bit.

Pancakes for me is a buckwheat pancake sweetened only with a bit of molasses in the batter. I make it Cracker Barrel style since we don't have one of those around here. A bit of pecans hidden in the bottom and a dash of cinnamon in the batter.

Small enough to enjoy, but big on taste!

Blessings.

            

Eating healthy away from home - my mini kitchen

Hello! 

 Is spring getting your allergies stirred up? They sure are here. 

I wanted to share some ideas of how I cook, or keep, our meals as close to what we eat at home when we travel. Not so much for allergies, but for budget and the comfort of home cooked food. 

Don't get me wrong, we eat out. We have date night twice a month that one is at a nice restaurant and one is what we all "low on fundage" restaurant. 

This past week we made a trip out of town for 4 days and stayed in a hotel. The hotel room had what they called a 'wet bar' that had a long counter with a small sink, a micro and a mini refrigerator. This was ideal for meals.  I don't have a microwave at home, so it was a bit of a learning curve.

When we go out of town, whether for camping or a mini trip like this one for 4 days, I always get a plain notebook paper and write out the days with B, L, D and S for snacks. Like this:

Then I write in what we usually eat on a normal weekly menu and decide if I want to prepare that, pre-cook, or change to a simpler version of it. Such as I make my own turkey breakfast sausage and have done so for 20 yrs. Sometimes we pre-cook them and freeze them to take, sometimes I buy cooked chicken sausage. This is the point when I choose to plan that.

Each meal we eat a meat, starch and vegi or 2. I often eat two because I feel better with that. 

When I plan out what we usually eat and make changes for simplifying it helps to keep my peacefulness while away from home. Then I take a separate paper and write out what needs prepped or cooked then plug that into my weekly planning. 

I prep for a trip at least 2 weeks ahead, with 1 week before being the week to make sure I have everything and the last few days are the cooking etc. I pace out everything as I don't have the energy I used to when I was younger, this way I can still keep up with household tasks that need done through the week.

After I have everything and the day arrives, I keep out lunch and put it on the top of the cooler. 

I also have my 'kitchen box' that has the following items (usually) unless I am in the camper. The camper has a kitchen that has the same items at home, easy peasy for me.  

My kitchen box: small bottle of dish soap, plastic scrapper, dishcloth, hand towel, drying towel, paper towels, salt & pepper, toothpicks, lighter, spatula, cooking fork, spoon or 2, a small pairing knife that can be used for all sorts of things, a mini candle (I light them at each dinner to remind us that Christ is the light of our life), a sauce pan, and a skillet - usually my cast iron. Oh, oil. A couple extra baggies or plastic containers for leftovers, and sleeve stays. I don't like my sleeves sliding down when I am cooking and focused.

Often the hotels don't have a kitchen so I set up one. Like this:

This is an electric low volt 2 burner that travels with us when we are in a hotel. I also have a little basket of teas I bring, since we use herbal teas for a variety of things, and the kettle.

This trip, my husband giggled when he saw I packed my apron. :-)  My apron is a signal to my brain "I'm working, need to focus".  Really, it's because I'm so good at getting things on my clothes and my trusty apron cuts down on my laundry. 

I am careful to not but things down the drain, that would not be a good steward of the hotels resources.

I have also learned that anything which may smoke and cause the hotel room to get smokey, sending both of us to open windows and doors and fan the detectors with towels is a no go for planning meals.  

Once. Only once did that happen. I never bring things now that will heat and get smokey. Whew!

I hope this sharing gives ideas of how you can travel and still eat well, and much cheaper than eating out all the time. 

We did eat at Cracker Barrel one day for lunch with friends. eh. I like my cooking, but the company was worth it.

Blessings,

Dee

Wishing you Christmas blessings

 Hello Ladies,

It's that time of year that I find myself looking back and thinking of the things I've done, not done and still want to do. Sharing our Christmas is one of those things that I want to do.

My husband is very busy with our Church this time of year since we have several services to accommodate so many people. While he is coming and going I find such joy in making sure he has a hot meal, and I've taken care of our kittens and the house. Usually I sprinkle in some puttering too. 

Our youngest daughter (34) came up to share Christmas lunch with us. It was so much fun to hear all that she has going on. After lunch she drove back to her home, about 45 min from us, and we did another Christmas tradition.

Took a nap!

It was a quiet lovely day.

Today we woke to snow, and more snow.  I am sharing what we looked out to see this morning and our tree this year.  

The tree outside is a real one that didn't get used inside. Kittens. I will just say that.  

I like to put lights on it for the first day of Winter to remind us that Christ is our light. From the first day of Winter forward, the days are getting brighter. Just as Christ is in our hearts, the more we spend time reading what examples He gave, learning how to apply it to our life and doing God's will for us the brighter our hearts become.

Merry Christmas and Happy Epiphany (we celebrate that too, since that's the end of the Christmas season (12 days after Christmas) when the Wise men came.) 

Mrs Peterson

Our tree is a memory tree. Each ornament is from something we have done, somewhere we lived, or something that represented a major event from that year. It's always a joy to put our tree up.

Managing our things

Morning chat over breakfast

Hello Ladies,

Today I wanted to share what I do to manage our things in our home. There are many methods out there, this is just what I do. Hopefully you can glean a little something.

First, to clarify, I am often wanting to remove things that we don't use and have no problem returning something that, once I got it home, doesn't work.  

On with the topic.

As a homemaker, part of our job is to manage our things. Through the past few years I have let go of this and have started feeling like our things are managing me.

Let me give you an example. Too many house plants, piles of paper that I haven't take the time to decide what to do with them, craft projects & ideas that I collect, files that need cleaned out, and even the boxes of donation items...that still need to be taken down.

When I notice I am tense and stressful while trying to tend to too many plants, then I need to find a home for a few of them so I feel more peaceful while tending them.

Same with the craft projects. I can collect a TON of ideas and even supplies. Walking into Hobby Lobby, I have to stay focused on the one thing I am there for. When the supplies get to a point that I feel tense and I know I will never get to all these wonderful things, I need to pull out all those things that don't give me peace.  Jamming more in drawers or needing to find cute containers to to hold them all isn't helping me manage hour home.

Having peace has always been my marker, if you will.  If it doesn't give me peace then the Lord is not in it.

Moving DVD's around, or a ton of family pictures doesn't serve our home to be a peaceful, cozy home. A few of the best pictures and putting our favorite DVD's in a cabinet does.

I often use the container method too. I pick a space that something will be, say DVD's in a cabinet. If we start getting too many and they don't fit then it's time to reduce what we have so they stay contained in that space.  

I hope these ideas help.

Lately I have been removing 10 items a day. Usually from where ever I am standing and see something I don't use anymore or have never used. Out cha' go!!  Then I take a few minutes and remove 9 more items. 

It's been freeing. 

Wishing you God's peace,

Mrs. Peterson

Happy Eastertide! & little events at home

image from Graphics Fairy

Hello Ladies, 

I wanted to wish you a Happy Eastertide. This is the 7 days following Easter. So much fun. 

This is just a little note to share what we are up to lately. We are currently getting our roof replaced with a metal roof. 

Many folks here in Colorado have a metal roof and it has become a necessity for us. The ice forms on the north side of the house and creates an ice dam. This happens when we get snow, then a few warm days. 

Enough warmth to start to melt it from the roof but not quite since it never gets above 30 in the winter. The new roof will be metal and the sun warms the metal and snow goes "swoooosh" right off the roof. 

I am preparing the house for guests to arrive this Friday. As Lydia at Home Living calls them, "descendants". I just love that! They will be here for 3 days so we are planning a couple day trips to show them the mountains and area near us. 

Also a family get-together is planned for after church. I just love those. Everyone brings something tasty to go with a meat dish we make. 

Decluttering is on my mind a lot lately. I think Spring does this to most ladies. We get the urge to declutter and re-arrange. It's called "nesting". {big smile here}. I love nesting time. 

To clean out, wipe down and re-arrange. Sometimes new couch pillows too, but I've made some in recent past and I just change the fabric. They are very easy to make. No snaps, zippers or ties. It's like an envelop. 

My daily rest time is a highlight for me. A time to just rest, and I like to thank the Lord for the work I've been able to do and ask Him to guide me in the rest of the day and bless my efforts. 

I'm off to do an errand. There is a metal recycle place near us and there is a few things we "cleaned up" outside for our Spring cleaning around the property. 

I don't like to throw out anything that will not break down, so metal goes to the metal recycle and glass and plastics go to our recycle center. 

I was raised this way and think I've talked about it here on the blog before. 

Anyways, I'm off so I can get back in time for afternoon tea and a snack. 

Blessings, 

Mrs. Peterson

Fear or Faith

Hello Ladies~

Well, we are all living in a historical time period. One woman calls it an "interesting time".  Indeed.

I had written this blog post over a week ago, and much has changed even since then, but I still feel called to post it. Probably for my own good.

Fear or Faith

This is a little wooden plaque on my bookcase in the living room. 

There is so much gossip, rumors, etc. And not much else to talk about, except the current events, with folks. Or is there?

As a homemaker charged with my home, am I living my duties? Or am I lost in the news and fear?

It is my responsibility to see to the needs of my husband and family. To tend to necessities cleanliness, and this includes a happy home.

What can I do to create a happy home? Even in this time of trial?

I can practice my Faith!  For me, my faith tells me I act daily in prudence, thoughtfulness, wisdom, and most of all Trust that God has all of this and is very aware of what we are going through. We have the opportunity as homemakers to live our faith, speak of it to our family, encourage and uplift.

As a homemaker, my job has just ramped up a bit.  To plan family games, to keep my health stable and my mindset on the One who can help me.  I do that with morning prayer time, and evening devotion time with my husband, and most of all when family calls from other states to just talk "details". Details that bring down my spirit.  I can practice my faith in those phone calls to/from others.  Speaking of how we do our part and let Him handle the rest. Living in the "oh my gosh" doesn't help my faith. Nor lift my spirits to Him. It takes me farther from Him.

Even as my husband may get into the news, I can provide a loving gesture to help get his mind off of all that is out there.  Hot tea on the porch to watch the sunset maybe? Questions like: where did you see God in your day? or affirmations of : when you were cleaning out the garage, I was so impressed with your strength. Can you show me all the work you did? or finding a funny video/movie we own and playing that while we eat?

I read once, this concept with Lydia from Home Living, that we are charged as homemakers to create a happy home.  She also went as far as to share how important it is to be mindful of what we watch and listen to.  Since this disrupts our peacefulness and clear headedness so we can keep things on a rhythm.

Rhythm is so important especially during this time. I will write later on my current rhythm, but many especially children and spouses, lean on us as homemakers for that rhythm.
I pray you are all well and consider expanding your perceptions from the events day to day in the world, to the events in your home and how blessed you are to contribute to the joy and peace in your own home by what you plan, cook and how you fill your time.

God bless you,

Mrs. Peterson

New beginnings

Our bird feeder with "deer protection" around it.

Hello Dear ladies~

I am going to write this post similar to a lovely woman's blog called Laine's Letters.  You may remember her blog posts.  I really enjoyed them and I understand you can find some still at WayBack dot com.

There are so many things that have been happening that this is the easiest way for me to keep updated  here. I hope you are doing well.

In the past few years I have learned to greatly reduce my "social" calendar from mid November until after early January. The health condition I manage worsens from physical or emotional stress and this system is the best I've found to be able to enjoy the holidays without the added burden of "I must" or "but I should" on my plate.  As I age, those words are a distant memory.

We had a lovely Thanksgiving.  My husband and I stayed in a tiny little cabin on a lake about an hour north of us.  We were only there 2 days since that was easiest on the budget but just enough time to have a lovely get away. They had their first snow storm while we were there. It was a little alarming as the roof was made of metal and the snow dropping from the pine trees was loud. But the cozy fire and window facing the lake, no cell phone service and no DVD...only VHS made it a memorable weekend.  The office carried a large variety of VHS and we had fun reminiscing.  

The first week of December we decided to adopt an 8mo puppy from the Humane Society. Where we live that's really the only place to get pets. No stores, and very little breeders. He is a terrier mix, and we didn't know then that they have an abundance of energy.  His name was Bennett, and since we had an emergency the next day with my husband, family came to help and after a few days "Bennett" was already answering to his name, so we chose Mr. Bennett.  (Very different than the last 3 Boxers we've had).

The next morning my dear husband woke me to tell me I needed to take him to the ER.  I haven't known him to go to the hospital for anything in 30 years.  I thought it was the stomach flu so treated him with Charcoal tabs and peppermint tea, but no avail.  So we started at the local surgical ER and after many hours there and a CT scan and ultrasound, he had gallbladder issues.  We were lovingly but firmly sent directly to the larger hospital for surgery.

By the end of the day the surgeon came to talk to me and verified his gallbladder was full of stones.  Though I knew that, we could see them on the ultrasound..they would ROLL inside his gallbladder.  The surgeon was inquiring if he ever showed symptoms because half of this gallbladder was gangrene!  Oh my!  The Dr said any longer and sepsis could have set in. Praise be to God for a specialist on staff for his surgeon that day.  God is so good.  Family came up to help the new puppy, be with dad, and make sure I ate. I am grateful.

It was a few days later I knew the puppy was too much. But we decided to try to keep him. We still have him, but this is the longest it's taken me to recover from anything in a very long time.  I am grateful my husband is well and a clean bill of health and he plays with the puppy and takes him out the most. Again, God is good.  He provides for my needs.

I missed a grandson's Bday and my youngest daughters Bday, but I enjoyed boxing up the gifts and mailing them. And they really enjoyed getting mail with fun balloons and bubbles in their box along with their gift.  I love to give things that are fun!  We don't get enough mail these days, so I have made it a point to mail "gift boxes" of birthday theme things.  I have been know to mail a Bday crown and a favorite cookie with a homemade gift of sorts. With what I get - I love to give.

My birthday came and went quietly.  My husband and I went on a date night and I counted it as my birthday. We saw Little Women in the theatre - matinee - and split a small box of popcorn.  We haven't done that in ages. Then we went for a gluten free pizza, that they charged way too much for, but I saved half and froze it for a movie night at home.  We are so blessed with being able to share together things we love.

In the past week, I have chosen to re-work my weekly plan and am making blogging my once a week enjoyment, hopefully on Mondays.  I am also choosing to stay home more and with the help of my husband we looked at all the things I do and how much energy they take.  I was definitely doing too many things.  In God's Wisdom, He allowed me to make my choices, and now I get to make new ones that give me the chance to go to a women's ecumenical Bible study once a week and still manage our home with energy in reserve.

The other major change I am making is changing my weekly grocery run to every other week.  Since I have limited energy, and by Grace while looking at my week, the idea of getting groceries every 2 weeks was very exciting.  I sang praises to God for this, and when I settled on the idea, I am going to do the health food store 1 week and Walmart 2 weeks later.  I used to do this in Ohio, but were we live now, we are very limited on grocery stores.  The local one that is a big name is also the main one for anyone who comes to town, including tourists, so it gets too busy and too stimulating for my calm nature.  

My word this year that I am focusing on is Joy. My thinking has gotten to wrapped up in my symptoms, my "I can't" thinking and others always asking about "How ARE you?"  But those are questions that focus on symptoms.  I want to focus on the good and recovery.  So I tend to pause a lot more and practice a new way to phrase my words when my husband says "how was your day?", "I stepped outside my recovery a bit, but I'm getting back on track." or "I am making progress thank you".  These help my brain and body to believe and act on that rather than only focus on the negitive. God is all Good, all the time.  So why do I need to focus on or talk about the bad!

Today, we took Mr.Bennett and went on a lovely drive through the next two towns.  Seeing the horses rolling in the snow made me laugh.  And the reminder to play, even in the midst of your day.  So I am off to crochet some chair leg covers I learned from gDonna.com.  She is a lovely women that her and her husband like to do a year living in an older time frame. Her last one was 1949!

May God bless you and fill you with Peace,

Mrs. Peterson

Margins

Afternoon Blueberry tea with real blueberries and whipped cinnamon honey.

Hello Ladies,

With past experience of a very busy holiday season, I have learned fatigue and physical exhaustion set in quickly if I don't keep to boundaries.  I have realized these boundaries are for me, not for me to impose on family.

So far in the past 45 days I have foreseen the upcoming months and said no to many social "extras" I was doing.  Like a lovely women's Bible study I attend when I can, and also a few women from church trying to plan a retreat day each month...even in November and December.

In saying no, my boundaries are pushed by almost everyone.  But I know it's best for me to be able to go through the season with joy in my heart and praising God for Jesus.

A week and a half after Christmas is my birthday, and last year I was so exhausted I didn't want to be around anyone for my birthday. It saddened me, but the mental and physical exhaustion was to great. I only wanted a quiet sleigh ride.  My blessed husband granted me that one wish. And it was beautiful.

This topic brings me back to women of years past.  The ones who I have read about, and who I have heard through those who have lived in the early 1900's.

Women did things with family, and guarded her energy and family time.  It was lovely to travel to spend time with family, but never at the expense of her health or her children. She didn't have the amount of media in her life as we do today, yet she had very clear boundaries.

If we recall for a moment, the times before cell phones and media, the planning that was involved in creating a lovely atmosphere at home.  And the big plans for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

These are stressful enough, but adding in the media and texting that is expected now, and all the wonderful shows and gatherings,  it creates an added burden of stress.

As a women and mom, I find in my older years, I don't like to add too much to my schedule so I like to create Margins.  If you have never read the book, I highly recommend it.  It gave me insights and "permission" if you will to say No.  To hold to my reasons why, and to know God will bless me in my no.

In my journey with my health, years ago, I heard of a phrase which I still use today: Pigs at a trough.  Using this phrase helps me explain to others my no.  So if there are 3 pigs at a trough and a 4th comes up and pushes his way in, then one of the 3 gets pushed out.  That's just the way it is.

If I am managing meals and my home for my husband and I, managing my health with daily rests and watching the amount of activities I am involved in, I have a little time left for things for me.  If that time is filled with planning and grandchildren then I can't do many errands. If that time is filled with errands and a family gathering then I can't do additional family or social events.

Lets say I have space in my week for 1 major event.  Well, if my children and grandchildren get together, then I say no to lunch with a friend that week.

If there are only 24 hours in a day...we can't squeeze in 26 or 27 just by going faster or more meticulous planning.  We get 24 hours.

This holiday season from November and into December I am using Margins and the phrase "pigs at a trough" to help me navigate through so I can be joyful and grateful.  If I miss out on a few things then that is what I must do so I can remain happy and available for my husband, tend to our home and see my grandchildren.

Wishing you a peaceful November and planning season for Christmas.

Mrs. Peterson

Seasons in daily life

"Woman harvesting" graphic from Graphic Fairy

Hello Ladies~

For many years I have been interested in the seasons, as God gave to us.  Many Christian church's have changes through the seasons, and from hundred's of years ago this was because people were mostly an agricultural people.

Today, I see, for me, not only the changes in our seasonal church activities, but also as a woman. There are natural tendencies that happen in the fall.  Like "nesting". Or becoming more aware of the needs of the family to prepare for winter.

Reading things like homeschooling with Waldorf ways ( I didn't homeschool, but have found the rhythms of nature and celebrations according to the seasons appealing to me). Most any book you find from the 1800's on homemaking (free online with archive library.org) will show how women thought about the seasons, and how not only the food changes, but the crafting and clothing as well.

Also fascinating is how our daily life is this way.  We wake up, usually (unless you have a health project you manage) we wake with a bit of energy and it increases by noon, the high point of the day, only to feel that natural afternoon fatigue that asks us to stop for a bit and rest before we start winding down into evening meal preparations and the quiet of the evening.

I won't go into how screen time, smart phones, and blue lights affect this.  Please educate yourself though, it is proven to affect our brains.

So, back to seasons and rhythms of our day.  An article I read recently, I apologize I don't know the name of it, spoke of the daily activities being either more "masculine" which is the doing part, and more "feminine" which is the rest & nuture part.

Being a homemaker for almost 20 years, I can certainly see this in myself, but my body due to long time health limitations, requires the rest side.

I think for so many years I was/and sometimes still am, a "doer".  I can "do from sun up after prayer time, to the lights out at bed.

Now I need and long for the balance of the "feminine"  rest & nurture. I thrive when I do this.  And my moods and the transition through menopause is a bit easier.

When I was first a homemaker, after years of working, I read an amazing article that made sense. It was called "When Queens Ride by " Agnes Sligh Turnbull. The website this link is for is not the original place I saw it, but she did an amazing job putting it into a PDF to read.

It speaks of being more feminine.  We need this in our world.  Old red flannel pants - as a religious sister I know refers to the devil- does not want us, as women to be feminine, either by dress or by nature.

The drive to do, to be...takes us out of our natural desire to nurture.

I hope you will find enjoyment in the article, and look at balance your day and your seasons with what God has created. It's beautiful to see His hand in this when we abide.

Blessings to you,
Mrs. Peterson

Max 2013-2019


We miss you Max.

Autumn Blessings to you

Hello~

The changing of the seasons has always been close to my heart.  God made the seasons, each for it's own reason. Our bodies naturally live with that..even though we may not be aware of it.

Through the years and learning more about the seasons, agriculture, the Church and the seasons and my own experience of "nesting" each Fall, I have come to love the change.  Except Spring.  Yes I love the flowers and I love the colors and Easter especially, but after a long, cold, icy winter when Spring arrives in late March I am ready for flowers and green.  This doesn't usually happen until May.

So, I struggle with Spring. I guess it is a sort of impatience. I often struggle with that. God's timing not Dee's is my frequent phrase.

So today I decorated just a bit, changed my pillow covers on the couch (which I learned from a very easy tutorial on You Tube. Each took about 30 min. No zippers, no buttons. Love it!) changed my rug by my front door and still need to change my wreath.  Ooops.

I don't do the whole house now.  With just Mr. P and I and we live in the country, it's just enough to lift my spirits and show a change of seasons within our home too.

Sometimes I add God's naturally decorations which I love the most!

Tonight for dinner we had a pot roast, roasted potatoes and carrots, green beans and a very yummy Apple Crisp that is gluten free, and no refined sugar ( I use maple syrup). We actually had the Apple Crisp for an afternoon snack while we waited for dinner to cook.

I wish you Fall Blessings and may God provide you with decorations in your area to enjoy.

Homemade Apple Crisp and tea to welcome Fall.

Simpler life with out Prime

Desk Day is on Tuesdays, and is much simpler now. (Unsure where picture is from, I've had it for many years.)

Hello Ladies~

Today I am writing this post at my husband's request.  You see, several weeks ago I asked my husband to take me off of Amazon "prime".  He didn't want to cancel completely, but agreed.

This choice was because it has become way to easy to order and I was constantly blowing our budget. For what?  More stuff to find a place in our home and to manage. Well, no more. I took a stand against the draw and here is what I found.

I found that when you place an order online and choose the free option for shipping or the 5-7 day for  a few dollars....you have to WAIT.

Waiting is not something that comes naturally for me.

After placing an order and feeling like it had been days, when really it was only 2 days, I got online to see where my "stuff" was.  I was impatient.  The feeling of wanting it now.  Of getting "stuff" instantly.  And then ordering again to fulfill that "click" desire that is never satified.

After 4 days, I was actually anxious. Where is my stuff?

Then after 7 days, when it came, I had come to a completely different place. Emotionally, and mentally.

I was remembering the days of placing orders via mail. When you send in a check.  I still do this, but not as my regular ordering process.

The patience had been restored and I actually longed for and was excited to get my package.

The whole experience has given me courage to stop using Prime and to enjoy the process of waiting. The peace. The ability to not purchase whatever I see and to stay in budget has been very rewarding.

Yes I pay shipping.  But I buy less and I buy with intention.  When the items get here, I know what I bought and where it is going to go.

Days past, I was buying so much that our budget meetings where more about ' what is $15.32 on 5/14?' and 'what is $74.67 on 5/17'.

I can say I've purchase 3 orders in the past month on Amazon and a few from direct companies like Vitacost and Vermont Country Store.

I hope sharing my experience helps someone else and maybe choose to just challenge yourself to find ways to help stay in budget.

Have a blessed weekend,
Dee

Birthday gift

It was so exciting! I have always wanted to go for a sleigh ride.  This year for my birthday that was my one wish.

It was beautiful.  The driver was more chatty than I expected, but I took that as the Lord giving me an opportunity to enjoy conversation too.  

IT WAS SOO COLD! I had a blanket under the wool one pictured and snow boots on.  C went back to the car to get my pink knit hat from my emergency car kit, that made a huge difference.

The best part, the clydesdales had jingle bells on them!

We drove all around the lake and then some. The lake was frozen solid, almost like me.

But quite, and amazing.  

We had cloudy days leading up to the day choose.  I prayed all night and morning, please God, let the sun come out when we are there.

Guess what!? The sun was out, just over the ranch area we were at.  Thank you God!

It was a lovely birthday gift.

Spreading Love

Happy Valentine's Day!

It is such fun to create for Valentine's Day.  

Last week I found those cute little Valentine cards you get,at Walmart, for kids to exchange at school.  I found some with inspirations like "God loves you" and "God thinks you are special".  After adding a few fun stickers to each, I mailed them to our grandkids. 

I had such fun to create them, though I thought it was a bit corny, but they are young.  And truth be told, I would love to get a corny Valentines in the mail.  Just because it brings a smile. So I do what I would like.

I then prepared to send a few other hand written notes and decorated the envelopes with stickers, I love stickers! 

Later, decorating!  It's not elaborate. But it brightens our home and shows a bit of change for this season.  Since it is just my husband and I, and he loves what ever I do to decorate, I find it fun to pull together random things and create.  Each year is different, for the most part.

Lovely pillows add a bit of color for the season.

The seasonal table I use is actually my great-grandparents desk. I have a picture of them in front of it. I think it was their anniversary present.

A seasonal table is something you can decorate with each season, or birthdays, or just have a basket for prayer requests and prayer books.  I originally got the idea from Mrs. Sharp's Traditions book.  The book I have is older than this version, but I imagine this one has the same lovely traditions.  

This is also the day I usually make a valentine for Mr. P.  He sometimes participates in making a card.  He is so patient when I get these ideas to do something fun and different.  Sometimes, I get an eye-roll, but he usually enjoys what ever the plan was. 

Anything that I think would bring a smile to me, that's what I love to do for others.  A way to share the love in my heart. The love that is given to me from my Father in heaven.

"The Greatest Love story ever told."

We will be having roasted chicken with sweet potatoes and broccoli tonight for dinner.  I am planning on using a small table in my foyer for our dinner table and setting up in front of the fire.  Cozy and lovely. 

I am not great at picture taking, but you can get the idea of what I've done this year.  The shelf below Jesus and the string with tiny close pins is there all year long.  At Christmas our manger scene is on my seasonal table and our cards we get in the mail are filled all along the string with clips.  I like to use real leaves in the fall to help decorate as well, and in the summer...it's what ever has come up. Lent everything is bare.  Then Easter I have little things the kids have made through the years that I clip up.  

My placemats on the table are made from last year.  I have 4 Christmas placemats, but only use 2, so the extra 2 got a fun heart stuck to them and they became Valentine placemats.  They need new hearts though.

The centerpiece is a serving tray from the thrift shop, and a little red  glass votive holder. We light a candle each night for dinner to remind us the Christ is the Light of our life.

Lydia over at HomeLiving has wonderful ways to arrange flowers, Though my flowers never turn out like hers,  I still enjoy going to the store and finding something that can be created to a centerpiece.

Happy Valentine's day!  

A New Year a new calendar

A warm welcome this morning to you.  I have been finishing setting up my new calendar for the year.  Each year I try to find a calendar with larger squares because I like to write in my supper meal plan on it.  This helps me to plan for the week, and to prepare things earlier if Mr P will be gone that evening.

The past few years my favorite calendar is Heart to Home from Current Catalog.  While shipping is a bit much for a calendar, it is worth it for the spaces I need each day. Makes planning for family and household activities much easier. Though this year there was a bit of mix up with them, but they expressed mailed the correct calendar, hence the reason I am just finishing setting it up.  God's timing not mine.

So here is my new calendar that stays on the front of my refrigerator.

I do the same for my planner.  While I call it a planner, it's more of a glorified calendar and to do list for each day.  I have a Home Management Binder that has seasonal to-do's and Church related traditions we celebrate.

Here is a close up of the squares. I write in the meals for 2 weeks and rotate them so I only pick 14 meals for each season.  These periodically change to a new recipe or depending on what we tried and I hear "hmmmm"  after a new recipe, I mark a note on the calendar and don't make that again :-) 

So my calendar set up has been this way since my early years of marriage, back when the girls were very little and had activities.  Anything more than my appts after I got married, and I needed a new system. So this is mine.

I always get out colored markers, because we all have a little kid in us that LOVES markers, and I start with January. I draw a line down the left and right side, separating Sunday and Saturday from the week. The colors usually have something to do with the monthly season or theme:

January = blue for cold and snow

February= red for Valentine's

March = green for St Patrick's day

April = a different blue then Jan, for April showers bring....

May= pink! for May flowers  :-)  I know goofy, but fun.

please tell me you have heard of "April showers, bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring....Pilgrims!" I learned it when I was very young.

June= green for grass and harvest growth

July= one side usually is red and the other blue, or I do dots down both sides of red & blue

August= a dark yellow (so you can see it) for a sunny hot month

September= red for an apple for the teacher ( I was a substitute teacher for elementary school for many years while we were stationed in Okinawa)

October = orange for PUMPKINS!!!

November= brown for the amazing fall leaves that we see

December = red and green for Christmas!

Then I do the same for the little calendar I take with me.  There is one other quirky tradition I have, I learned it from my Grandma. She had one of those little 5 year diaries and she would write in a few events of the day in it, but she ALWAYS wrote in the morning temperature. (I have recently learned she did this because her and grandpa were farmers and needed to know the daily temp.)

So way back in high school I started writing in the daily temperature in the left corner of my calendar. I do it to track the weather and see how we are slowly going into winter, then see how we are slowly warming up to Spring.  This is also a neat way for me to see 'what was it like last year', yep I keep a few years worth of calendars tucked away just for that and a sort of diary of when appts were last year.

No one in my family has ever noticed the temperature thing, they just know I always look to see what it is when I get up.  If I get up late, I still write what it was but I ask Mr P since he is always up long before the sun.

That's it!  That is my  fun way to start my year.  Then there are the colors for the dates: like blue for church related feasts and celebrations, pink for me for any appts etc, Mr P is green and any family events are pencil. They change too much.  Anniversaries & Bdays are in red - so I don't forget :-)

May God bless you this year.  Do you have any traditions for January you do that you would like to share?

~Dee

Thanksgiving outing

Hoping you had a pleasant Thanksgiving!

I haven't been online much for the past 3 weeks.  My mom passed 3 weeks ago and all the confusion of my step-dad and his overwhelm, my fears of "all the stuff to go through" and knowing family would be coming I hadn't seen in 20 yrs, well...let's just say I decided to back off from being very social.  

Until Thursday!  My girls and sister-in-law

wanted to host this year and all I had to do was make my popular Pecan Pie made with maple syrup.  I can do that!!  So after mass Thursday we decided to start a new tradition and went on a short walk (some folks say a hike, but I'm not physically to that point - yet).

We took Max and he had so much fun.  On our way back my husband spotted purple catcus'.  I didn't know Colorado HAD cactus'.  He got some amazing pictures.  

Tiny purple cactus all over the hillside. Isn't my husband an amazing photographer!

Max wanting to know why we stopped.  We didn't get much past those shrubs ahead.  Bears are still out and about and it was early enough I didn't want to see any.

This cliff side was made of a bazillion rocks.  So fascinating.  

Daughter and grandchildren with her ducks.  I hear they are supposed to be Christmas dinner but not sure that's going to happen.  

Making the paper chain with nephew and grandkids.

I wanted to do a craft with the grandkids and thought of an Advent chain.  I was looking for traditional things to make that would be easy for a 3 and 6yo.  What was fun was both my daughters joined in, my nephew and my sister-in-law.  Everyone wanted to do a craft!  How fun ! So next year I may plan something for everyone - optional of course.  I don't see the guys in on this :-) 

Have a lovely week!  

PS - We went to a gathering of couples from Church and one couple bought a 30 lb turkey at the school auction, but the person that showed up for Thanksgiving was vegetarian!  So she thought of me and brought a whole bag of turkey. Yeah! I love leftovers and getting creative to use them. I hear Turkey enchiladas are very tasty.

Enough hours in the day

zazzle.com

I have been thinking a lot lately about the Scripture verse in John 11:9 "Are there not 12 hours in a day?"

Though He was using it in a different context, God put this on my heart for a reason.  I tend to try to squish 20 hrs in my "12 hour day".  And as a result have struggled with adrenal and hormonal imbalances.

You see, I have learned that even though we may not have physical stresses, we can create them in our mind.  Pushing ourselves to do more, getting that checklist done, rushing here and there.  Truly though,  we don't get anymore accomplished and we are actually harming ourselves physically and emotionally.

Lydia of HomeLiving often writes on the need to do some work, but just as important is to take time to rest and rejuvenate.  As women we have a lot on our plates.  It almost becomes imperative that we do take the time to rest and rejuvenate, each day.

For example, I can create a "perfect" schedule that I can accomplish all the things I want done that day at home, an errand or event at church, and try to cook 3x that day.  At the end of the day, where does that leave me when my husband gets off work.  I'm exhausted, grumpy, and really not interested in him or his day.  How does that help me, or my marriage?

Yesterday the Lord put the hours of the day subject on my heart again.  I am seeing how much I try to force me will into the day and hardly have time to "listen" to Him and see where He wants my attention and work.

A daily reader I use says this:   "We forget we need deal with only one day at a time, and try to crowd too much into the waking hours of that day - or we even extend it beyond the point of weariness."  Later it speaks of living in the 12 hours we are given, slowing our pace and, this part I love, "If I am under pressure and setting myself deadlines ...I will stop and think, for this one day what can I do."

This too was a recent addition to this insight: Chinese medicine says we should live according to the day given, the seasons.  Rising with the sunrise and resting when the sun goes down.

All of these are really causing me too look at all the things I try to get done, according to my will.  And seeing how I feel at the end of the day, how my body reacts to such constant stresses.  As a homemaker, I joke that I am busier now than I was when I worked full time!  How true, but a shame.

When I worked long hours I used to dream of keeping a tidy home, decorating, a nice simple meal set at a table with a pretty place setting and being happy, dressed with feminine flare, and a smile when my husband came home.  As soon as I started making a schedule that was too full, I lost that.  All of it.

I'm not saying don't make a schedule, they are invaluable to me.  I'm saying God gave us 12 hours to do work and be active, the other times are meant for resting and rejuvenation.  Quiet time reading a book with my husband reading his book is an amazing way to end the day. Or he watches football to unwind and I do some crafting.

Just two nights ago my husband shared all the "things" he got done that day, and while he got a lot done he felt frazzled and was looking forward to down time.  Thank goodness I had dinner done and I too was needing quiet time.

Changing my thinking, changes my choices in my day. Another tip I've learned from Lydia is to make a list, just a few things, get them done before lunch, then I have the afternoon to myself.  That is what I try to do.  That gives me a chance to rest in the afternoon and do something that lifts my heart.  Like tea time with a pretty cup and snack!

I'm seeing that so many things I want done, really don't need done, I just want it that way.  Is it worth the stress on my body? Is it worth loosing my peace and my smile over?

Light in the midst of Winter

Today I want to write about a neat idea that relates to Christmas.  Christmas is traditionally right around the Winter Solstice. The time of year that is the darkest and cold.  Seems awfully dismal.

Yet when we celebrate Christmas, we celebrate Jesus' birth, the Light of the world.  The One who brings promise and love beyond our imagination.  He IS the Light of all. How appropriate then, that Christmas (the Light) is near the Winter Solstice (the darkest day).  Jesus is our Light in our darkest times and our coldest times.

Now, growing up, the weekend after Christmas we took down decorations and the house was empty.  After all the beauty and twinkle lights for weeks, gone.  Blank. Empty.  Right after we just celebrated one of the two most important holidays of the year.

Several years ago it was brought to my attention about the 12 days of Christmas.  These days are the days FOLLOWING Christmas.  They go to Jan 6th when the Epiphany is celebrated, also known as the day the Three Kings came.

The continued celebration (hundreds of years ago) went until Feb. 2nd. Traditionally known as Candlemas or the Presentation of the Lord.  The day He was presented to the temple. The day Mary would have completed the required time for Purification (Old testament) after giving birth.

We have in the past left our decorations up until Feb 2nd.  But I am WAY over all the decorations for that long.

I have found a new way to celebrate the Light of Christ coming during this long winter.  We take down everything except the white twinkle lights on the tree.  You can see from the picture, no decorations, just the tree.

It is so bright and cheery every night to turn on.  This is something I enjoy and so does my husband.  We will leave it up until Feb 2nd.

Then on Feb 2nd, Candlemas, we have beeswax candles (or any candles if available) blessed...enough for the year, and each night during dinner we light it. As  a reminder that Christ is our light and we give thanks.  The candle is worked into what ever table decoration we already have, or one I create.

It is such a joyous time.

I share this as a way to bring joy and light to the home in the midst of what we hear "the dead of winter".  Winter is the time to snuggle in, to rest, to ponder what we will grow, or places we will go.
It's also a time to find joy and celebrate Christmas beyond one day a year.

Blessings.

Wild flowers from roadside

It's so exciting here to see the changes that slowly occur just before the seasons change.  Little signs that the earth is preparing for winter...at least in our part of the world.

Each year just before Fall the roadsides are sprinkled with these cute little sunflowers.  They are wild and grow everywhere.

The closer Fall get the more there are.

Just today we where in town and the tips of a few trees are turning yellow.  And neighbors say a trip farther up into the mountain reveals the trail paths are full of color.

We try to take a trip farther north to see the colors, they are so bright yellow, orange and red you almost need sunglasses to go sight seeing.

I love to find ways to bring nature inside and decorate in some way.  This is my centerpiece this week.  I love to be creative and try something, even if it's a small thing that no one else notices....I do.

It's those small things that when we listen to our heart and honor them, the joy that fills us is Grace!