Lent and signs of Spring

 

photo from Graphics Fairy

We are currently in the Lenten season and my fasting has not gone as I want. Though I hear that's good! Can you believe that?  It's good, because I am learning about myself in this. My will. God's will. My wants and my will are very hard for me to put aside. I often think I am good at this, but I'm going to share - it's not as easy when I say I'm going to give up things that I have used to distract me.

This year I'm trying to limit being online for just random whatever. What I am learning, 2 weeks into Lent, that those random whatever's are distractions from the overwhelm I feel on which project to start on, or just life and aging (you know, all those little things we have to tend to now that fill our time).

To accept the distractions BEFORE I get online is my goal. Then ask "ok, so I want to go look up xyz" Do I need xyz? Is this going to help me grow closer to God? If not, what's the first step in a task I want to get done today? Set the time and do that for 5 min. Go!!!

That's my goal. I'm not perfect, but I am trying to grow closer to the Lord and find the internet as a distraction. It can be a wonderful tool, when I keep it in its place. A tool. 

                                         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spring is here in southern Colorado. I saw Ms Robin show up yesterday. She and I have a tussle every year! She tells me she is nesting in my porch lights and I tell her no you are not!  

She even gets lippy with me with a mouth full of mud and sticks. It's very amusing.

Today I heard the Meadowlark out in the pasture. It was so beautiful. Definitely Spring when I hear that. 

We didn't get much snow this winter. Weekly water hauling to keep the trees watered will be a routine for the next several months. My husband gets the water, since the tank is too large for my car to haul, then he hooks up the hose and I move it tree to tree  for 30 min each. 

Seasonal chores here. Along with discussions with Ms Robin. We shall see who wins this battle this year.

Garden planning is under way too. Planting season is usually not until May, we ALWAYS have a hail storm in May. I learned my lesson once, 

Wishing you a blessed Lent. Are you learning anything about you during this time? So grateful for the Lord's patience and Love.

~Dee

Reflections and lessons during Fall prep work

Harvested Sage, last of the season

 As the fall leaves are turning yellow and falling off the trees, I'm turning to my garden to close it down for the season. It reminds me of a time I contemplated the changes in seasons. Fall is the prep time to finish outside chores and necessities before winter.

This prep work, before hunkering down for a few months, is the time God gives me to prepare my heart, to cleanse anything that is not helpful for me or my journey to Him. 

Sage, oregano, and parsley are being harvested as the last of what's growing. With the temperatures in the 20's in the morning, making sure all the wood is stacked and easy to get to is another chore. The fall mum's in pots on my porch will be left as long as they will stand up to the cold.

Morning fires are the norm now though not until after my morning routine of prayers and dressing. Tending to it and keeping an eye on it aren't priority, yet. 

When I am cleaning the garden I feel a sense of gratitude. Remembering all the days I spent watering, hoping, looking to the sky at His vastness in prayer wondering what will grow this year, and what will be 'experience' or learning for next year. 

Colorado has many summers with 'experience' in gardening. Like the year all the plants were stunted to 4 inches until late July. I learned the cold wind that summer kept everything from growing. No harvest was that year. So we put up a fence to block the north wind. 

What keeps me from growing? Lately I am finding I am thinking often about this. Is it the way I speak about others? Is it the way I think, that "I can solve their problems" rather than listening and turning them to the One Who can? Am I finding myself more in a state of frustration and not able to be present to the Lord and listen as I go through my day?

Why is that? What is causing it? 

Often for me, overwhelm and thinking I can do more than is truly possible. This prevents me from staying in a state of peacefulness so I can stay in contact with Him. He is the reason I have my duties and responsibilities, so it is vital for me to learn to listen and follow His lead. 

I'm grateful to be away from the internet for a time. Even these days, my use is limited. I have learned I need to use the internet with intention: make a list of what I need, and always set the timer on the stove (that way I can't just turn it off).

One amazing young lady called the time on the internet mind-numbing time. I don't want that for myself. I want more than that. I want to grow closer to hearing His guidance and I can't do that when my eyes and ears are taking in things that have nothing to do with me or my journey. 

The past few weeks I have also notice the return of clearer thinking, of able to decide things with less stress. There isn't the congestion in my head of all the things I've seen or heard from being online. It's clearer, calmer. 

As I harvested the sage, the refreshing smell of the herb as I cut and hung it lifted my spirits and I couldn't help but get giddy inside. The stickiness of the sage oil to the string, which helps my simple little bow stay in place as it dries. 

Afternoons are sitting in the sun with a jacket and tea, contemplating my day. "From the rising of the sun to the setting, may the name of the Lord be Praised" Ps 113, is my thoughts as I watch the end of the day happenings with wildlife outside. Soon it will be to cold to sit outside, so I am soaking in as much as I can.

What did I do today that would bear fruit for You? What did I say or think that got me on my own wants and will path? What did I learn?  I think that one is the one I am enjoying reflecting on now. Even if what I learned came from a hard lesson. 

What are you preparing your home and heart for as we enter into the late fall/winter season?

Hanging to dry, with a wonderful fragrance.

Finally summer here

I change the flowers in my 'bike' each fall and spring too. So much fun.

 Hello Ladies,

We are finally having warmer days here. I may be able to get my little starts in the ground without fear of them freezing. 

My neighbor lost half of hers last week due to a freeze. 28 degrees that morning, whew!

As I am changing the house to match the season, I wondered what others do.  

I love Lydia's changes. I think she changes hers monthly. You will have to pop over to her blog at HomeLiving and see what see has been up to.  I love the season when she decorates with this vibrant turquoise
blue. So pretty.

I change my couch cushions, door wreath, veranda decorating finally, and my table decorations each week have more spring summer things. Like now I have a little birdhouse my grandson painted and a little bird next to it that I found at a local boutique.

Bed quilt is changed and blankets on the couch are changed to lighter ones. 

The menu change, as well as our closets. 

Love the signs of summer!

What do you do for your home to show signs of the change in season.

Blessings to you,

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.

When more is not enough

 

From The Graphics Fairy vintage pictures.

Hello Ladies~

These are some early morning thoughts from our pastor's homily last weekend. As we enter into Holy Week and Good Friday, I am thinking a lot about this subject.

Books, internet, YouTube, FB, Instagram, etc - more, keep it short to keep attention, fast.

We want more and more, easier and short because we don't have time. We don't want to take time. We have so much to do. We want more.

Adam and Eve had everything, and wanted more.  They were told just not this one tree. That's it. Just one, don't touch it! But they wanted that too, to gain more knowledge then what they had.

Jesus had everything too - and gave it all up for you and me. In the end, all He had was His life and He gave that up too.

Why? For what?

Because God loves you and me so much - He wanted to give us a place in heaven with Him.

He just asks we follow His commandments. To believe in Jesus. And to change from our "old life" to put on a new one. 

This is our journey, daily. To practice living as we are asked. Is it hard? Yes! But the reward is awesome!

The alternative is as Adam & Eve - they had everything and wanted more. They wanted for themselves. 

Jesus had all and gave it up out of love.

Can we do that too? 

This Easter let us contemplate God's love. And when we mess up - Thank Jesus and say sorry. Ask for the fits of the Holy Spirit to try again. 

Blessings and peace be with you,

Mrs Peterson

New garden beds with carpet!

J.R. Miller - Homemaking

Hello Ladies,

I just wonder, did the title of this post floor you! No pun intended.

Last summer at one of the few yard sales out here in the country, I met a woman who was 84 and has gardened here on the mesa her whole life.  For those who don't know about the mesa here in southern Colorado, well, it's flat, windy, and there is so many bindweed that it will make a gardener weep! and give up.

Which is what has happened to me through the few years we have lived here.

Until now. (so exciting!)

The lovely woman listened as I explained that I've given up gardening for now. That due to a health condition I manage that limits how much energy I can expend all in one swoop, I just can't keep up with the bindweed, dry conditions and garden.  She smiled and took me to her garden and showed me her secret to preserving her energy. 

Carpet!

Taking scrap carpet, remnants, or a piece you found on sale and lay it on the ground. Place your garden bed on top of it and the fill it. But most importantly:

DON'T DISTURB THE SOIL.  

Oh those words. If only someone would have told me that before we tilled, poked, planted and filled that amazing garden I designed when we moved here. I have heard those words from several folks including Nursery owners. 

You see, one bindweed seed can stay alive for almost 80 years. And the shoots of one seed go 20 feet horizontal and 30 feet down! Once they hit daylight, they sprout. With no water. With no invitation. 

And I can pull them out by the arm load and they will be fully regrown within 2 weeks. They grow up the cedar slats on the side of our house, they grow through concrete cracks, the grown through the screen door on the patio. 

So the amazing thing is - we did this. We found a large piece of carpet, the cheapest we could find, and put it down on the ground closer to the house rather than out near the pasture.

What's cool is the young man that helped me look for a cheap piece, after I explained why, he said "oh you must live on the mesa. I grew up out there and my dad used to do the same thing to all of our flower beds."  WOW!  

So I am not so weird after all. Just a way to learn to work with nature, rather than fight against it and burn too much energy.

Now, I like to be different, but carpet in the garden?...check it out:

This is the final creation, done by the fellows that help with the bindweed. They re-used everything from where the garden used to be in the pasture area, and moved it here. This is so much more elaborate than I expected. I was in the house as they worked, and it's just wonderful. Cozy little place for me to garden. Right by the hoses, and the back door.

Can  you see the carpet? It's one piece, just hiding under the mulch. There was so much mulch in the other garden , they were able to use it all and lightly cover the carpet.


Have a lovely day! I hope this inspires you to be creative and think outside the box :-)

If you want to see lovely blooms, please check out FlowerLadyLoraine's blog. I go there often to see color and blooms!

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

"When we human beings let go and embrace the new, when we flow with the seasons, and merge with the same basic rhythm that tells the geese when to go, we hear things beyond sound, and feel things beyond touch, and a kind of serenity settles over our spirits."

~Jean Hersey, The Shape of a Year

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.

Spring is here!

Oh how I enjoy so many people writing about the joys of Spring finally here. Especially after a winter with a LOT of snow!  I will share pictures of here in Colorado.

Max and I made a goofy snowman on our morning walk.

Snow in front of our little country cottage.

Max is grateful to run on the paths made by my husband with the snowblower.

Red Mountain Pass was closed for a couple weeks due to all the snow, but thanks to such hard working fella's  the pass is finally open and Ouray and Silverton can get their much needed supplies. Ever so slowly!

A female Junco!  She was so soft looking and lovely.

Here, I am enjoying the birds. In the winter we had many Junco's that come with the snow and leave with the snow. Funny little guys & gals.

I know Spring is finally here too when the sun suddenly shifts from low in the sky to high.  It goes from the far South to directly East. My heart gets excited each time the sun rises and I suddenly see the shift.

Now with the melt off, the Red Winged black birds are back.  I have such mixed feelings about them, they are noisy and aggressive.  But our little Flicka has no fear.  The black birds do when I run out of the house swinging a towel hooting and hollering! Yes it is quite the sight.

Funny though, the sparrows and finches stay put. It's like they know I'm trying to chase off the obnoxious ones.

My husband finished up the outside prep work last weekend. Spreading seed, taking down them manger that was buried in snow, taking down the white picket fences we had up to keep the deer from eating the bird food.  Oh what a journey that was before the snow got deep.

Today, the Meadow Larks are out singing. That is a sure sign of Spring, along with our Aspens blooming.  So exciting!

I look forward to seeing the grass finally come up and the temperature just a bit more.  We are still in the 30's in the morning, still cold enough I need my long winter coat to take Max for a walk.



Happy Spring!

D

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

Embracing Rhythm

ChristArt.com

"You have set all the borders on the earth. You have made summer and winter." Psalm 74:17

Recently with the changing of seasons I have been thinking a lot about rhythm. God created a rhythm to the seasons.  And within each season there are herbs, plants, veggies that are available.  From my past years of studying herbs, there is a reason for each where and when you find them.

Such as root veggies.  These are typically more abundant in fall and winter.  This is to help our bodies store the nutrients needed for cold weather.  While we still need greens, they aren't as readily available.  Also root veggies give a comfort when roasted or mashed.

Here is another example: dandelions. These little gems are EVERYWHERE in spring.  Why? Because they are good for the liver and help "clean out" the stored stuff from winter.  Those foods that can create heaviness in our bodies in the spring and summer season. (And we thought they were weeds!)

I love to sit and ponder God's creation.  This brings me to the Rhythm of the Home.  I know many friends through the years that just "wing it". They don't bother with lists or they have a list but choose to not have a weekly rhythm that gives the home a feeling of "all is taken care of".

I have tried their way and found it's not for me.  There is nothing wrong if you are they type of person that can "wing it" and keep your homemangement...manageble.  I need rhythm.  There is a part of me that loves nature, loves to be in nature, loves to pick up a fall leaf and know - the earth is settling in for a long winters nap.

Through the years I have found my Temperament   and that I need lists and to be organized.  It's part of my makeup.  Now that I've learned this, I've stopped trying to embrace "others ideas" and learn to embrace my own.  It's part of my self-acceptance.

I have long been interested in the Waldorf system, mostly because the system uses rhythm and routines, nature and a less "structured" approach to educating children.  I also love several others, but that's not my topic today. I need reminders to not get too ridged - that too is from learning my temperament.

Learning and embracing rhythm, it's easy to follow a pattern in my homemaking day.  When I have a weekly rhythm my home feels more balanced (my Word for the Year) and my husband and I can find most anything because things are caught up and we know when something will get done, God willing.  We know when and where, just like the things God sets in the seasons.

I used to fight against rhythm, I wanted things exact.  People say rhythm feels stifling.  I say it creates self-discipline.  A virtue that I have let go in recent years...trying to follow others ideals.

My home is coming back to order and beauty and I am loving having a weekly rhythm.  I pray that we each listen to our heart and follow what method works for each of us and not what someone has posted is "THE" way to manage your home.

Have a blessed week.  Enjoy the next season...November brings much to embrace. What will your rhythm be as we enter into the last of the Fall season?

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?

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!

Drying your harvest

Heres' a link to a great sheet on preserving and drying your harvest. It even gives guidance if you don't have a dehydrator.

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09308.pdf

A blustery day

This is from my file of last year. I'm not real fond of goin' out to take a picture in 15 degrees!

I hear it is the same in most of the NE, but for our little town in OH ...folks it is just plain ol' COLD!!!!!!!! As I type it's 15 degrees and that is not counting the strong wind blowing. Hmm, I think I will pray for our heater before I go to bed. Pray for it to stay running and praise God in gratitude. Silly, yep! Stupid, nope. I've got heat!! and some folks don't.

Peace,

D

update: so I just checked weather.com: It's 13 degrees with winds up to 20 mph which makes the temp -4. MINUS FOUR!!! Yikes