Grounding and Gratitude

Kodak standing with me, grounding. Max was nearby, but more interested in getting us to come and play!

Recently I have been introduced to something called grounding. Grounding is simple.  You walk outside, onto bare ground (grass or dirt) and stand for 15 - 30 min a day.  I am told it's suppose to help calm your insides with the earth's energy.   At first I thought it was really weird, but was willing to try it since all I had to do was stand on bare ground.  It sounded almost too simple.  The idea is that we become so enmeshed  with electronic gadgets that our own electrical being gets stuck on "go!". (Yes we are electrical. Our brains, our heart, our nervous system runs like that.)

Anyways, grounding helps to calm that part of our system down that is stuck on go, go, go.  I don't know how it works, but I know it does.  And it's amazing.

I have tried to make a point to walk outside for at least 15 minutes a day to just be, my bare feet and the earth God made.  The very first time I did it, I could FEEL the earth.  The layers of warmth, then standing there for a few minutes the colder layer underneath.  I have always heard that people could tell when Spring or Winter was coming by walking barefooted on the ground.  They could feel the earth's warm layer underneath or the cold layer.  Fascinating.

 My husband has been calling me his gypsy sunflower.  I go outside all bundled up, with bare feet.  In  southern Colorado it's really not that bad.  Especially for this cold natured girl.  Anyways, I stand there, face in the sun, and feet in the dirt....loving life.  All the nervous energy inside me melts away! All of it!  I have sometimes sat down, just like you may have done as a kid. Walked outside, stood there in the warm sun with cool breeze and sat right there in the middle of our backyard.  Then something amazing happened.

Being.  Just being.  Allowed me to look up and thank God for His creation.  His amazing wisdom, to give something so simple the ability to calm my insides and allow healing.  I found myself praising God for the sun, for the earth, for the trees, for the seasons, for my body responding so well to His creation.  All because I stepped outside barefooted.

Like I said, I don't know how it works, but I do know it does.  I don't care how it does either.  It reminds me to take time each day to "be" and give gratitude to God.  None of which can be done while "plugged in".

Try it.  You might be amazed and find your heart singing gratitude to God as well!

~Dee

Getting back to less

My necessary "scratch" papers that were transferred to my home management binder & the pile that went to recycle.

A piles of pens that went to the donation box.  How many pens do I really need?

Yesterday while reviewing ways to manage stress and my chronic illness, I was reminded how too many choices and clutter contribute to our stress in our lives.  Courtney at Bemorewithless.com wrote that grocery stores back in the 1950's had roughly 8,000 items in them, today we have a whopping 47,000 items.  This has astonished me. And held true even at Office Depot.  I went to get sheet protectors. They had an entire isle filled with various sheet protectors!  Talk about overwhelming.

I took some time to look at what is cluttering my life right now.  What are my immediate stressors?  I had to laugh.  I had just had a conversation with a friend in Ohio about "death by scratch paper".  I have found it every frugal to repurpose paper that the back of it can be used for something else.  So I would tear it into 4ths and put it into the "pile" for later use.  The problem: I grab the scratch paper to write down notes of whatever and have these torn papers littered through my house, on my bulletin board, in my home-mangement binder and in my inbox.  All with something I thought was important at the time, but as time went on, truthfully I can't even remember what's on 90% of them.

So, today I grabbed 95% of my stacks, including the ones in my husbands office that have been there for 6 years, and they all went to recycle.  Simplicity and freeing. The new plan is if it is important enough, I will write it in my Moleskin organizer for this week, in the small space I have allowed for notes for the week.  If that's not going to work, do I need it?  Can I save it to the computer and properly reference it so I can find it again?  Which is another topic for a later date, computer clutter!

It feels good to get the scratch paper out and to choose either a nice pad of paper, pretty paper purchased for notes, or my organizer.  I probably won't be purchasing pretty paper for notes, as the same habit would still be there.  I hope to learn a new habit:  asking - do I need this information?, will I remember this or apply this at a later date?  or is it just good info that fascinates me.

Courtney's blog has inspired me for years.  I have done the 3-33 for 3 years now. :-)   I will write on that later too, but if you feel you have too much choice in your life, look at what the stressors are.  Courtney's principle and basic guidelines for 3-33 can be applied to anything.  Today I am going to start on the kitchen challenge.  To par down my grocery items to the necessary.  I don't know it I can get to 33 items, but I love the idea of simplicity in my kitchen and my meal planning.

~Dee

Being a woman

deeprootsathome.com

Reflecting on the a scripture passage about Peter's mother-in-law, I saw how Jesus lovingly took this woman's hand and healed her. Her gift in return was serving Him.  It's her role or her calling if you will, in her life.  A very noble calling.

Woman was created as God's final creation.  Not because she is last. When an artist is creating, he will go through several very wonderful creations before he gets to the one He considers special.  God created the world, the animals, man, then finally woman and said "it is good."  He didn't create any more.  The pinnacle of creation, I have heard it called before.

Our dignity and honor as women have been sorely distorted by our culture today.  The slight change from thriving and loving being a woman to a fierce battle to show the world that we are equal.  I think it's more in the heart. Does your heart believe you are created with dignity...just because you breathe?  You were!  Just because you breath. Not because you got the job as the assistant bank manager, or the top designer, or because you can hold 3 jobs but because when you woke up this morning, you were breathing.  Our dignity as women has nothing to do with how clean our house is or  how well dressed we are.

It is a high calling to embrace being a woman and serving the Lord through others within this calling.  I don't think that this woman that Jesus healed or Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary or Mary's mom would have ran around ragged, overtired, stressed and always trying to "get more done" or do more than was outside what they accepted as their abilities.  I'm sure there was some of it, but not to the point of their health being sacrificed.

I believe the woman that Jesus healed from the fever, had faith in God.  She was a woman who knew God's promises, and His commands.   She spent time learning about Him.

As I look on my life today, and how different I am from the ways I was raised in, I see such a beauty and gift to live in femininity. The place from the heart that sees peace, charity and beauty and tries to bring that into the surroundings of her home and into her family.  This is what I aspire. Such models as these women in the Bible are an inspiration to women today.  Look at the heart.  See the simplicity and enjoy His love for you.

~Dee

Tea Party

Just over a week ago my 2 daughters organized a surprise tea party, my favorite thing to do!  Since my birthday was earlier in the week, and my husband had been sick, the party was on the weekend.  So everyone could come!  We had many types of tea, little sandwiches, fruit, treats and oh my! the "cake".  So I am gluten, dairy and 99% sugar free...except for tea parties!  They made everything that I could eat, and made the cake from chocolate biscotti's with a center piece called Hail Merry's cup.  IT was a chocolate & almond butter cup.  Oh, and it is so delicious and sweet we divided it amongst 8 people.  Teeny slices!

We all had old fashioned hats to wear, and we were all dressed nice.  It was an amazing day.  Pouring tea, chatting.  My husband sat at the table, while Kim's husband rested on the couch.  He has just had knee surgery.  His post on Facebook (from what I hear) was about how he had never seen girls get so into something like this and how neat it was to see the child in all of us.

Do you have something that make you happy inside?

Have a great day.

Peace to you,
Dee

Christmas Traditions fill our tree

Our ornament this year.                                                    

Danielle's bell.

                                                                   
We have taken down most of the Christmas decorations after the Epiphany (the 6th) except the manger scene.  It will stay up until Feb. 2nd. The traditional Presentation or also known as Candalmas.  This is the day to get a blessed candle from your priest/pastor, or make one of your own out of beeswax, to represent the Light of Christ for your family for the coming year.  Putting away the nativity scene and setting out the candle for Sunday dinners is our tradition.  A small reminder of the Light and being called to BE a light in a world of darkness.  To live in a way that supports our faith, not what the neighbor says we SHOULD be doing.  I usually go against the grain, most of the time.  I like traditional ways. I like to dress femininely.  And I like to talk about the Lord.  Most people will say, "oh don't say that you'll offend someone".  "oh, you shouldn't dress like that it makes others uncomfortable."  Well, tell them don't look!

We have an amazing tradition I started years ago with our family. Living in many places of the world while my husband was active duty, I collected an ornament from each place we lived.  We would sign the back and write the location and the year.  So my tree has become a memory tree for Christmas.  Ornaments from when I was in Girls Scouts as a little girl. Ornaments like the second picture, of a simple string of yarn and a bell.  There are several of these on the tree from when Danielle (my youngest step-daughter) was in 2nd grade and sang in a school musical. All the kids got to shake the bells during Jingle Bells!  How cute.  This always reminds me of that day.

This year being closer to family for the first time in years, the girls came over and showed husbands, boyfriends and grandkids all the ones they made and what the ornaments were for.  It was wonderful.  This year I couldn't find an ornament for where we live. This is a very old western town that is touristy because of the history, but no ornament.  It was just last Sunday after some of us stayed to clean up from Christmas mass that I found the gold crown ornament laying on a platform.  I had asked about it and the woman organizing the cleanup asked "didn't you get one" I had replied no.  She said then it was mine!  God is good!  I got my memory ornament, and we have signed the back and put the year and location.  Of course, there is a story with that one too now.  And it was free.

I hope you will look for a major event in your year to collect an ornament for your Christmas tree.  Start a new tradition and see what unfolds through the years.

Wishing you peace,

Dee

Afternoon Tea Party

                                          The biscotti's are already gone.  And were yummy!

This afternoon, for my birthday, my husband joined me for a simple tea party.  I pulled out my fancy tea cup I got for my birthday a few years ago, a tea pot Chris bought me while we were in Okinawa, and a silver plater from the Dollar Tree :-)  Love the Dollar Tree.  I served some amazing gluten-free chocolate biscotti's and we sat a visited in the sunshine here in our living room.  It was chilly outside but very warm inside in the sun.

I love having tea parties, even the simplest ones.  It is something I learned, the afternoon tea at 3pm portion, from a British lady across the street from me while I was growing up.  She had afternoon tea daily.  When I was young, I always enjoyed heading over to Blanche's house for tea in her garden with her boxer, Jeannie.  This was a frequent event in my life.  One year she made homemade applesauce for all the neighbors and I had told her (in the innocence of a child) I didn't like the peel in the applesauce.  The next season, she made one batch just for me with out peel.  What a sweet woman.

Recently I have been inspired to "dress up" my tea time from Lydia at Home Living.  She is a beautiful woman who inspires me to look differently at the feminine details of my home.  I have learned to set up my tea tray the night before or in the morning, complete with cloth napkin and a dish for my snack.  A very untraditional snack, since I need protein in the afternoons.  Having this ready gives me a boost and something to look forward too in the afternoon.  In particular, the reminder through the day to take a break!  Housekeeping and managing can run from the time the feet hit the floor until the time you drop into bed at night.  It's important to take time for yourself in the afternoon.

May your day be blessed with peace.

Dee

Our simple life in southern Colorado

(We are blessed and grateful everyday.)
Living a traditionally simple life in southern Colorado.

This has been a blessing.  After many days/months praying about what to write on, and being inspired by a few of my favorites, I realized I can only write about who I naturally am and not creating something that I want to be.  

I hope to write on all the things God has brought into my our life and inspire you to seek the person you were created to be, or maybe open your heart to living more traditionally.  Going against the grain of society - if you will.  I pray God bless you and keeps you and grants you His peace.

Dee

Coming out of blog retirement

It has been many years since I have blogged, and let me say much has changed on blogger since then.   Navigating this new format is going to be fun.  

I left blogging for many personal reasons and have found for the past 2 years I have longed to have a way to teach other homemakers from my experience.  In the past several years I have mentored many young ladies, been friends with other like minded homemakers who respect their husbands, and my husband and I have mentored young couples before marriage.  All the while I have longed to create a sort of newsletter or mini-magazine for homemakers especially those home with older children or no children and still choose to be home.  It is our God given place to be filled with blessings and to bless others. I decided to start with blogging. Fine tune some writing then pray for the knowledge of God's will to start a magazine.   

Today, I open my blog back up, knowing there are many people who dis-agree with me and that's ok. There are other blogs that will suit them.  The new journey or season today is with a focus on creating beauty and order, while remaining feminine.  I enjoy gardening and crafting as well as finding ways to live balanced in my days so my heart is always on the Lord and a smile on my face.  That is a sweet place to be.  

We have moved and currently live in Colorado. I also have 2 grandchildren and one on the way.  My husband is very supportive of my blog.  To live in a place of such dignity that with the noise of the world it's easy to miss the whisper in the quiet.  Remember Elijah?  That whisper is there, we just need to keep our hearts focused on Him.

May God have the glory for  my musings and my you be inspired in some way.

Blessings to you,

Dee

On dressing modestly

Just something to think about.

"WHY DO WOMEN WANT TO DRESS LIKE MEN WHEN THEY’RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE WOMEN? WHY LOSE FEMININITY, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR GREATEST CHARMS? WE GET MORE ACCOMPLISHED BY BEING CHARMING THAN WE WOULD BE FLAUNTING AROUND IN PANTS AND SMOKING. I’M VERY FOND OF MEN. I THINK THEY ARE WONDERFUL CREATURES. I LOVE THEM DEARLY. BUT I DON’T WANT TO LOOK LIKE ONE. WHEN WOMEN GAVE UP THEIR LONG SKIRTS, THEY MADE A GRAVE ERROR…" ~TASHA TUDOR

For those who are interested in the scientific proof of men's brains being affected"

http://chastity.com/chastity-qa/how-far-too-far/modesty/it-wrong-wear-bikini/it-

From Catholic Alive.com:

Since sensuality, which is oriented towards "the body as an object of enjoyment" is in general strong­er and more important in men, modesty and shame-the tendency to conceal sexual values specifically connected with the body-must be more pro­nounced in girls and women.

Pope John Paul II pointed out in Love and Res­ponsibility (henceforth, L&R; p. 176, 177)

Yet, since the woman is not nearly as "visual" in her attraction as the man is, she who has more reason to be modest, often does not feel the need for modesty. John Paul concluded, then, that "The evolution of modesty in woman requires some initial insight into the male psychology" (L&R p. 177) Women often have no clue as to how men are stirred by them.

And, many young men (who believe in chastity) have never thought about modest dress in women. Some are perfectly ready to visually exploit a woman in a short skirt or bikini, though not physically. Often as they begin to think about the root causes of lust, they start to recognize the negative effect immod­est dress has on them.

We might close our eyes to this, but the merchants don't. And the fortunes they make by putting their theories into practice prove they know what they are doing.

Does dressing in a sexy way give a woman a certain power over men? It sure does. But, it's an expensive power. It's like the power a person gets from taking drugs: it comes with a heavy price. A certain type of man, will be powerfully drawn to an immodestly dressed woman, the type of man who sees women as sex objects, not as potential spouses.

Marriage Monday

Today is Monday and I am enjoying the thought of making Monday's devoted to your Marriage.  What a great way to start your week, right after the Lord's Day of course!  Sunday we start our week, praising God and giving thanks for our salvation through Jesus.

Monday, right ofter we honor our Lord, gives us the opportunity to honor our husband (or wife) and do something that says "I love you" and "you are important to me".  Take a moment today to find something little that will lift the spirit of your husband and say "I appreciate you".

Have you ever heard of the S.H.M.I.L.Y. story?


For prayers and wonderful ideas for Marriage Monday visit Generational Womanhood

"We housewives often in the course of our work come up to bare unwitting prospects and we exclaim, “Oh, it’s perfect drudgery!” But stay, come round this way, view your work from another standpoint. Ah, what a change! Heavens light is upon it; sacred memories arise, glad songs are heard and we trace where high art has been at work. Best of all, our work need not be likened to a ruin, but a place filled with happy human souls. Don’t have one-sided views of your work, view it all round. Have a truly high idea of  your work, and you will never commit the great mistake of thinking it drudgery."

By Charlotte Skinner,  The Housewife, 1886.

Do visit Brocante Home for the entire essay!

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

Is it life-giving?

Be mindful of what you find life-giving.
What lightens your gait, enlightens your heart, brightens your soul?
These practices need to figure into your day.
Don’t just wait for the weekend, or for vacation or retreat time to savor life.
Choose life daily.
Infuse your day with some practices that you find delightful.
These alone will not take away the huge challenges of life,
though this lightening will change your perspective considerably
for the better…

Curtis G. Almquist, SSJE

The last post

Hello all!

I have come to the decision to close my blog. At least for public viewing for now. I've been blogging for along time and have found the Spirit of God moving me to constantly look at my motives and the issue of Pride. One of the 7 deadly sins. It is VERY difficult and I constantly try to negotiate a middle ground with God. Guess how that goes?!

Within the past 2 weeks I have read several things on being busy in other peoples business. If I tend to my own shortcomings and my own spiritual life, I don't have any need to meddle or "be busy" with others business.

Ouch! Let me tell you, I don't like it either, but the urgency or prompting is strong and cannot be avoided.

May God grant you peace and may you always hunger for His presence in every moment and every decision you make. I wish you the grace of God to know yourself, find Him and fall in love with His mercy, and be His hands and feet during your time here.

Remember, we are not here for our own will and pleasure. We are here to serve Him.

Peace,

Dee

PS Funny in looking back. My first post was on Jan 25. A full circle.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I haven't been on in a while, just too busy. We are getting ready to completely remodel our bathroom...pray for us that it all goes as God's plan. We started the process about 2 mths ago and we have been shopping, talking, and meeting with our contractor along with Thanksgiving and Christmas. I will be glad when it's mid- Feb and the project is done.

So here are some updates of what we've been doing for the past month or so:

Here is my collection from the fall walks I did each morning. I like to pick up something, usually just one a day, that stands out to me. My favorite? There are several (grin, that's why I pick them up!) but the one standing up in the back reminds me of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was a perfect heart and red. The other fav, a ginormous leaf that was yellow, orange and brown. How cool is that!

My better half cutting down our Christmas tree. We choose a certain day to go. Lo and behold the Lord had plans that day for freezing rain! and wind when you are on top of the hills. Well, the fire and hot cocoa back at the tree farm cabin was all the more sweeter...literally.

Isn't he cute!

This was a few days after Christmas. Trust me when I say we had a blast! We hadn't been sledding since the kids were little and we lived in CA. We had so much fun, even though there wasn't much snow. The first run (we rode together, hey if I'm going down so is he!) I screamed all the way down. The kids going down next to us just stopped and watched. Then when we got to the bottom, I was laughing so hard I couldn't get up!! Humility kicked in when I saw the older teen at the top shaking his head. C and I just looked at each other and laughed. What a glorious moment to praise God for a bit of snow, a neighbor's sled, and courage! Next time we both agree pillows are a must :-)

I will post pictures of the bathroom as it gets underway.

I hope you had a great Christmas. Don't let those who call it a Holiday get to you. God is much bigger than that and we know the truth in our hearts.

Peace,

Dee

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

Happy 235th Birthday Marines!

Happy 235th Birthday Marines!

This day 20 years ago was my first date with C. :-) A lot has changed in 20 years, but the places we've been and the wonderful people I've met have been a blessing.

I love you C! Thanks for the adventure's during the last 20 years!

Simple dinners

For several years my eating has been void of dairy, wheat, soy and sugar due to health reasons. And when I tell people that I get the strangest looks, usually with the comment "then what DO you eat?" I've posted some of that here before, but wanted to share a simple dinner.

Turkey stir-fry. Easy-peasy. Cut up turkey breast into bit size pieces and lightly cook, just until center is just a bit pink. Add a sprinkling of soy sauce (organic is best) and some garlic and already cooked rice. At the last second toss in some spinach (since that's what's in season right now, otherwise I like to green beans or peas.) Stir it all up with a dash of salt and pepper and add the finishing touch of fresh toasted walnuts! Viola! A tasty, filling and most important, nutritious meal.

I am a simple person. I like simple things, and most of all simple meals. I actually think complicated meals can create more problems (and stress) than necessary.

Something I read recently from a book Unplugged Kitchen (a favorite of High Desert Home). Viana La Place says in regards to simple cooking "It's like the difference between walking and driving. Driving may get you there faster. But walking opens up to the scent of a flower, observations of the veining in a green leaf, and the sheer joy of moving your body." She likens simple cooking to this way of life that many of us have lost touch with. We don't need all the fancy gadgets and electrical hoopla to make a good, nutritous meal.

I get rambunctious now and then, pulling out a recipe book to try some exotic recipe or plan for a fancy meal one night. Being that it's God's plan that actually happens, not Dee's, I run around at the last minute trying to cut corners or better yet trying to MAKE the meal happen. Frazzled, hurried, and hap-hazard the meal is served...at 7:00pm.

"Many of us suffer from mental stress and physical fatigue...a little pounding in the mortar might help you feel better...not in an agressive manor, but in a calming, rythmical way." Another gem from the book Unplugged. A calming rythmic way. How can creating a masterpiece with 16 ingredients, cook this, blend this, cook it some more, strain this, add this, and then bake for 2 hrs be calming and rythmic. It sure isn't to me.

Simple. Nice, but simple. That's me. Hmm, now if I can get my home in that state I'd be a happy girl.

Peace be with you!

Out and about

Last Saturday we went to Amish country (Sugarcreek, Charm, Berlin) mainly to go to Keim Lumber. If you live near, or are any where in the area...it is worth the trip. I have never seen such a beautiful lumber store. Handmade doors, flooring amongst several other hardware norms.

We are preparing to renovate our bathroom and our contractor had us go to look for "inside" doors. While they are all beautiful, we have opted to use the door that we will lose when we combine 2 rooms. Our home is 87 yrs old and all the wood and doors are original. We are trying to keep it that way.

So, since we were there, I went ahead and got my chicken for the next many weeks, and made a stop at the bulk food store. The buggy in the picture is the norm there. Actually this day, there were also many "mini" open buggy's that ladies where driving with a donkey. Unusual, but still there were many.

Thought I'd share the picture. It's snowed here for the first time this morning. That time of year. Don't forget to turn your clock back!

Peace,

Dee

Seasons

The cooler temperature and shorter days are the first signs of the changing seasons. Then there is also the desire of my body to slow down, stay inside (for the most part), and find a quiet peaceful routine to settle into for the winter. My body is also wanting more sleep.

I don't know much, but I do know, from my own experience, it sure seems like God knew what He was doing when He created the eb and flow of seasons and days. There is a reason we have the seasons. Our food is grown accordingly as well. It is so important to eat with the seasons and give into the needs of our body during changes. For me, that is the need for more rest and changing our meals to more warm and wholesome meals. And our days. Shorter days, longer nights. Morning, afternoon, evening. These all represent a time and a rythm. I am still working on a rythm for my home, but it's getting fine tuned as I go. Progress not perfection.

Fall creates a sense of crisp excitment for me. I never got to play in fall leaves growing up, so you know what I do three times a week when I go for my walk? Play in the leaves! Sometimes if C is with me I love to grab a handful and throw them at him...then run like crazy! It is a great time of year.

This is our tree. It's one of the last ones to change colors.

Our neighbor's tree, a true sign the season is changing.

My puppy! (I know, he's 4 he's not a puppy! But he will always be "puppy" to me.)

Me with Molly, my girl. Doing the final clean out of the herbs in the garden. She likes to come in and wonder around my garden while I work. Sometimes comes up close to see what I'm doing. I found out she likes the smell of Basil, but not the taste! Oh, you should have seen her face crinkle up when she tasted the Basil. "Ick!"

Molly, my garden helper, cuddler, hugger, and friend.

There are a few things changing that fits right into our seasonal changes. Here are a few:

*The garden is preped and ready for spring, sanz the carrots, spinach, kale and garlic.

*The clothes are changed out in our closets to reflect the changing needs of the season.

* The basket with all of our gloves, hats and scarves are out and by the door.

* The cars still need winterized.

* The patio furniture still needs covered.

*Our bathroom renovation is just opening up for serious consideration. We were waiting for winter since it's an inside job. But oh what a job it will be. More later on that.

*Menu's are changing to reflect the fall harvest: parsips, broccoli, potatoes, sweet potatoes, winter squash, carrots, apples (ooh..I have a great recipe for apple crisp that uses honey rather than sugar!), pomegranetes, and nuts. Mmmm. I think Hot cocoa should be on there too.

Happy Fall ya'll~

Dee

Today's pickin's

The herbs are fresh: some parsley, basil, oregano, and sage. The lone carrot was an oops.

Howdy! Here's a glimpse of today's pickin's. We are eating the harvest as quick as it comes in. I suppose that's good, though I have hopes to have enough to last a few months. But it is so yummy! The peas have been eatin before they even make it in the house...they are so sweet.

So, check out the purple beans. These are soo cool. They grow purple, but when cooked turn green and you never even know the difference. :-) Something fun for me, yet not funky for the husband! :-) Gotta love the folks at Territorial Seed for that one.

Going to try to freeze the basil. Last year I dried it and it lost so much flavor. I had to take out 2 sunflower plants. The carrots and onions were getting too much shade. And the tomatoes got a haircut and a discussion about living in your own "hula hoop" as I call living in your own space.

Every year I am amazed at what the garden teaches me. I have learned the corralation in the Bible between a garden and our soul. The weeds, well, can you guess. Those are those character defects that pop up and keep us from living God's will. The harvest that must be maintained, is just that...maintained, nurtured, watered, fed. The seed that God made is what grows. He makes it grow. There is nothing I can do, no dance, no amount of finger shaking, no "discussions" about who is in who's space that can make the tiny seed itself grow. Now, don't get me wrong, I know about watering, nurturing, tending, cutting back, etc. But the seed itself, He grows. He is the Master gardener. I am just the humble servent trying to tend to my own garden. Not yours. :-) So today, I live in my own hula hoop and try to keep the weeds out, while cutting back and nurturing so I will grow.

This is my typical Sunday morning breakfast, though this was extra special. Homegrown blueberries. YUM! They were tasty on top of my buckwheat waffle.

Check them out. My first blueberry harvest. In my hands it looked like a lot more. No matter, there gone now :-)

God's peace,

Dee

Grow garden, grow..

I am late in posting pictures of my garden this year, and it's funny to me that people are saying "I haven't seen any pic's of your garden? What's up?" Well...I'm gardening, LOL. Really though, just busy. With adding in basket making in my week and MAJOR decluttering and looking at my habits that make the clutter...I have been busy. Here are a few recent one's:
We done some updates since last year. Recovered the ground and finally added cedar bark. It smells great when it rains, and helps with bugs. A few stepping stones are added too. (The gate I brought from my garden in GA. C made it for me :-)

On the right I have two kinds of green beans growing: Lazy Housewife (what can I say) and a purple kind that turns green when cooked. The garlic is already pulled. Next to the green beans is peas...which are dying quickly because of the heat.

On the right is two kinds of heirloom tomatoes, carrots, onions, herbs: sage, oregano, basil, then some lettuce - 2 kinds which are about done, and sunflowers. Huge sunflowers.. they will grow to 7 ft and the heads will get 12 inches across. Just looking at the picture and what they are today they have already grown another foot. I had planned on potatoes in the space on the left, but my organic red potato didn't sprout. Oh well. Next time. Gardening is suppose to be fun, not stressful! If it's stressful, why are you doing it?

Here are my first fruits, early last week. I was eating the parsley while I was picking. Parsley is soo good for you, especially as a tea.

Other than my Serenity space above, I have been recouping from 2 weeks of bumps in the road...or journey. Literally. Two weeks ago I was in an accident. Someone ran a stop sign right here at the end of my street. God in His awesome power, protected me from serious injury. I saw him cross the white line at the stop sign and I pressed on the brakes, then thought"he has the stop sign" so I kept going. Slam!! my L front tire smushed in!! If I wouldn't have braked, that would have been my door!!

So, then 1 week later, I was hurrying (is that a word? today it is!) down the stairs to get the phone. In socks. On wood stairs. Yikes. Bump, bump, bump, bump. That's for the last 4 stairs I hit going down. My right, um, bum, took the brunt. I have a black line that looks like the stair tried to cut my muscle in half. I haven't been able to drive since last Thurs, the pressure to sit back sends me through the roof. My right arm got the next bit. Though the raspberry is healed the underlying bruise is slow to heal. I am grateful, even in this event. Sometimes it takes dramatic things for me to get the point. A) slow down...what are you in a hurry for Dee? I have a quote I've added to my signature on my email "Nature doesn't hurry, yet all things are accomplished" from a tea bag tag years ago. Today, I am living by that. and B) I think God wants me to spend some time just being. No car, and unable to drive...for now.

All things have a season. This is my season to contemplate on the awesomeness and mercy of God....and exactly how powerless I am!

Re-Enactment Basket Weaver here!

So Guess what!! The fort here in town has an annual festival and they call in folks to do re-enacting. There's even authentic Native American's that come in their full garb and educate people on the "camp" they have and what life would have been like in the 1780's.

I was asked to demonstrate basket weaving. That's part of the reason I have been busy with weaving. It was to got the skills out and dust them off so I didn't make a fool of myself in front of folks.

It turned out great! I only did Saturday, Sunday is the Lord's day and I try hard to not work (or volunteer) on Sunday. Just a personal thing of mine.

People stopped and watched and asked questions. GOOD questions, most of all "do you know how to do caning?" No. Sorry. And "are you going to teach classess?" YES!!! I have decided to start teaching and pass this gift on to others. Not until the Fall though, once the garden is done. I can only do so many things, and today...my plate is SOOO FUULL that I am once again in my life having to re-evaluate where I am and how I got here. Most of the time the answer has been my need to get involved and a Super woman cape that I thought I retired several years ago. Oh the pains of leaving that darn thing in retirment!! Pray for me.

So here are a couple of pictures Chris took of me. He was kind and brought me lunch. :-) I like lunch! And it was HOT out that day. None the less, it was a great day. There was a little girl that took a special interest in what I was doing. After watching for over 15 minutes, and the questions she asked told me she was really thinking, I told her I would teach her if her dad said it was ok. Who knows? Only God knows if there's an undiscovered basket weaver in her.

All the garb except shoes (I wore my western boots :-) and a hat.

One happy weaver. The baskets in the picture are some that I have done before. The one I am working on is a standard market basket, about 13 x 11 square. The handle was the special part. I wove a pattern around it. Sorry, I gave it away before I could get a picture.

Have a great day!

Peace,

Dee

What have I been up to?

Several folks often ask "So what have you been doing?" Well I'll show you:

Basket making is never a neat and tidy job.


Just about finished.

Ta Da! One market basket with a twill weave base.

This is a cassarole basket. This basket was my teaching basket. The Lord used this to teach me "let the basket teach me, not me "making" the basket". I learned patience and humility. It's surprising what God will use to teach lessons.

Yummy food!

And a bit of this!

Hope you have a great day!

Vacation to AZ

We haven't ever taken a vacation just because. In 20 yrs of the Marine Corps, our vacations were always to go visit family so the girls could see there biological mom. Well, not this time. We did make a stop to see my mom. It was brief but good. Then on to the Grand Canyon! Can you believe~ we took the train from Williams AZ to the Grand Canyon. What a spectacular sight to see. Pictures can't do it justice, but I will afford the effort to see if you are tantilized to go visit this creation from God.

The train ride up to the Grand Canyon.

We upgraded the car so we could stand on the back "porch" while we rode up. That was so neat!

The first glimpse at God's creation. I don't know all the statistics, but believe me when I say it's aloooonnnnggg ways down.
Thank you Lord for a railing. It kept my knees from being wobbly. At least at this look out point.
My Husbands creative eye at work.

Believe me, I am not standing anywhere near the edge. C just is good with a camera.

Now he on the other hand got so close I started to have anxieties!! I think the AZ sun baked him to long.

I found this little mound of red rock to be intriguing. Out in the middle of no where.

Our country's flag flying at the Grand Canyon.

The donkey trail down. No way! No how! Not a chance!

I hope you enjoyed our adventure. We really had an amazing time.