A Poem On Homemaking

Having a Mary Heart and a Martha Mind 

Lord of all pots and pans and things, since I’ve no time to be

A saint by doing lovely things, or watching late with Thee,

Or dreaming in the dawn-light, or storming Heaven’s gates,

Make me a saint by getting meals and washing up the plates.

Although I must have Martha’s hands, I have a Mary mind,

And when I black the boots and shoes, Thy sandals, Lord, I find.

I think of how they trod the earth, what time I scrub the floor:

Accept this meditation, Lord, I haven’t time for more.

Warm all the kitchen with Thy love, and light it with Thy peace;

Forgive me all my worrying, and make my grumbling cease.

Thou who didst love to give men food, in room or by the sea,

Accept this service that I do -— I do it unto Thee.

—Cecily Rosemary Hallack (1898-1938)

Good Things

Do you all have a wonderful Easter weekend? We sure did! We took our family to my best friend's Church....it was a beautiful service. As much as "I" wanted to attend the sunrise service...I got vetoed by the family. So we ended up at a more reasonable 10:30 time. After church the day was spent with just my core family....no extendeds this year. It was a fun day! My 3 boys planned to camp out overnight in the back yard...so we set up the tent. I don't know how they did it, it was about 40 degrees overnight....brrrrr...way too COLD for me! We grilled out steaks watched King of Kings and later built a big bon fire and made smores. FUN times for sure. We have a huge wood pile to get through this year so there will be many more fires to come. Today is low key.....cleaning up from the fire and tent adventures...making quiche for lunch with some leftover ham, cheese and last nights asparagus....YUM...it is in baking right now as I speak. I snuck away for a quickie blog post!

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Happenings in Ohio

Oh it it SO PRETTY here in Ohio! My Daffodils are in bloom!! We've had some rain yes....but the temps have been Divine! Upper 70's and this week moving on up to the 80's next. The grass is perking up and the buds are waking up on the trees. This time of year is wonderful! I have had my house windows opened for a full week now....I just love it! Even on the rainy days....things just smell so fresh. I've gotten out the box fans to move some of that good fresh air farther in the house.

Thinking about the tomato patch this year....Mothers day is when it's safe to set seedlings in Ohio. I went with a different variety last year , Early Girl....to have my maters sooner. But Honestly I just didn't like that variety near as much as my beloved beefsteak! I LOVE fresh tomato sandwiches and the beefsteak is hands down the best for that. Only trouble? Beef steak take forever to ripen.....like clean till late August...too late to wait. So this year for the first time.....I think I'm going to spend just a bit more and buy a few plants that are BIG...I'm talking already 2 ft tall (or more) and weeks ahead of the babies. It really is only a bit more.....say around $4- $5.99 per plant instead of $5 for 4 small baby ones. We'll see in later spring where I go with it. Since I do the no till heavy mulch method (Ruth Stout)

....I can set my plants just as soon as the weather is ready.....I bet I can get them in way early this year as it has been so mild here in Ohio.....I doubt there will be any sign of Mr. frost!

My BFF and her mother invited me and my family to their home church this past Sunday. They have both recently (the past year) really come home to the Lord....I can not tell you how HAPPY it makes me to know my Bestie and I will spend eternity together laughing, singing and praising the Lord....it makes me giddy.....I hope Heaven can handle the two of us....LOL! Growing up her parents were second parents to me....so blessed for her too! Her Church is beautiful and not far away...it was invite a friend day! We plan to attend for Easter. My family went through a crisis the past 2 years and sadly we weren't regular church goers during that time.....we are hoping as we put our pieces back together to add some form of regular fellowship to our family routine.

I was gonna talk about my crock pots too but since I've run on a little....I'll post later about them....plus I'd like to take a picture to add and that'll have to happen later! I own 3...One a wedding gift (Old faithful) One a free gift for helping clean out a basement (Older/ Old faithful from the 70's but still kicking strong)....and Old blue....who came from Good Will and is really green....HA HA....I know I'm a dork! Anyway we'll talk crocks later.

Have a blessed and wonderful Monday...bless your family and take JOY in your homemaking!

What Made You Smile Today?

So....what made YOU smile today?? Hopefully there was at least one thing that you smiled about today!

For me....it was baking with my big brother! We made cookies together to ship to a dear friend who is in Afghanistan. It was a pretty fun afternoon! So that is what I'm smiling about today. It will also bring more fun smiles in the future as a cherished memory!

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Aww...my "baby" girl turned 17 a few days ago. I simply can not believe it! Her name is Natalie and she is my first born. We took her out for a nice steak dinner and.....shopping! It was such a good time. She has just one year left in high school...then off to the big world. Wow I so remember being 17....just getting started in life...the good old days...LOL! Later today I'll add a picture of us...no time to up load right now. Happy Birthday Nat....Mom LOVES you!!

What's up?

Some things going on around the house....bathroom walls/redo. Gonna "try" to scrape off some stucco and return walls to a smooth surface then repaint. The carpet is gonna go too. This may take the rest of winter but you'll probably see a few pictures along the way. Working on getting more fruits and veggies in our lives. Gonna be listing some very good books- frugal/christian womans/crafty- on Ebay soon...I'll add my Ebay box to the side bar for anyone is interested. Working on finishing a crochet blanket. This would be blanket #2 for me. Made with really bulky thick yarn and a huge hook...it's only the single crochet stitch...that's all I know right now....but it's FUN non the less!! Blanket #1 I used the same HUGE hook and 2 strands of regular yarn...it was very pretty. I'll show that one if I blog about the new one. Been wanting to update the look of the blog...but I've been off so long now that I kinda have to relearn my way around codes and things have changed a bit...so we'll see about that one!

14 and 40

Happy Monday friends! This year my twins turned 14. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY BOYS!! Wow. Double WOW. They are such good kids...er...ummm...I mean young men! Boy are they changing. My guys are the first kid on the right and left...my youngest is third from the left. This is the usual crew of boys who spend lots of time at my house. I have a 16 year old daughter also...but she stayed out of all the party pictures....in fact she avoided "the boys" almost all night long....I don't blame her....LOL! They had a blast....we all were super tired the next day. It's always FUN opening our house and home to a big bunch of young people....young folk love hospitality too!! For myself and most moms I know in the same season of life, this is one of our biggest ministry fields. Don't overlook it....our young people need strong loving Christian adults in their lives....YOU can be one of them very easily...in some cases you may be the only one they get!! Here's a funny before and after, it'll speak for it's self:

I on the other hand quietly turned 40 this year. 40 is good so far.....thanks God! Thanks for everything. Have a great Monday and enjoy wherever you are at in life right now!!

Birthday Boys!!!

Happy 13th Birthday Eric and Steve!! Be kind to your Mom during those teen years! You have both been a blessing and Joy in my life!

Love,

Mom

Wanted: Dead or Alive??

My trash can has hung a wanted poster for one Mr. Jack Pumpkin....last seen Oct. 31 2010.
I fund him hiding out on my front porch....I presumed dead....well look at him...poor guy:
When I peeked inside... SURPRISE!!! He's all sorts of alive! Kinda gross...yet kinda cool. I've never let one rot quite this bad- it's been really warm here in Ohio....I'm a bad pumpkin momma! Too bad I don't home school...could have been a nice science teaching in there somewhere....LOL!

Family Fun

Here's how we spent halloween this year...GOOD TIMES!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Meet The Parents

My Mom and Dad. They gave me a great start in life and helped shape the person I am today!! They came and spent Halloween with us...we had a great time! We grilled steaks...it was pretty warm that day...probably the last grill meal for a while. None of my kids went trick or treating this year....so having a nice dinner was something fun to do instead!! Love ya Mom and Pops!!!

Laundry Cube

So I asked my middle son to bring me the laundry today...here's what I got! LOL!

The life of a blogger.

I've been blogging for over 2 years now!! Wow it went fast.....but life always does. Blogging has changed me in a funny way. I notice things more.....and I click my camera more. Little things that only used to give me a smile...may find their way out in cyber space! I do take a lot more pictures than I ever used to...digital cameras make that so easy!! There is not one picture form 10 years ago with anything that I've cooked...well maybe an occasional snap of a turkey or a birthday cake...but that's it! Now there's a ton of my creations on film ...heehe! I have recently been thinking about printing my blog out for my children in year instalments for later. There are many places online that do this for you....it's kinda cool! I've even thought of making a small family recipe book as a keepsake. Blogging is a really easy way to capture life. Maybe one day my children will look back on some of the memories of our life here. That's a kinda cool thought! Do you share your blog with family and friends?

Fun with Grandparents

I didn't get any pictures from the meatball party with my brother and his wife...but we had so much FUN and the food was great! They stayed late and we played many rounds of euchre. I am still learning the ins and outs of that game and my team did not win...but it was a blast! The very next day we had out my husbands Father and Mother for an easy dinner of Mexican Chicken Chili. I'll share that recipe and maybe one for guacamole later. We served the guacamole with blue corn chips, salsa, and a big old pan of cornbread. I usually don't do one party right after the other...but since the house was already cleaned and I had planned an easy dump dinner for the next day after the labor intensive meatball party...it was a no brainer to go ahead and invite the Grandparents M. out to spend the evening in fellowship with us! It is so easy to share a big old pot of chili anyway!! I call it a dump dinner because it's just crack some cans of stuff and dump it all in a big pot to simmer...HAHA!

Fall Fixups

A few quick shots of the kitchen and dining room all gussied up for fall:

There's those yummy cupcakes again ;)

More Dry Erase Marker Love!

Pumpkin Carving at Grandma's

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Thank you granny for opening you heart and home to bless us with family fellowship and wonderful fall harvest blessing memories for years to come!! We forgot to read our favorite harvest poem:

When the Frost is on the Punkin
Mr. James Whitcomb Riley (1853–1916)

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock,
And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin' turkey-cock,
And the clackin' of the guineys, and the cluckin' of the hens,
And the rooster's hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence;
O, it's then the time a feller is a-feelin' at his best,
With the risin' sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest,
As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.

They's something kindo' harty-like about the atmusfere
When the heat of summer's over and the coolin' fall is here—
Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossoms on the trees,
And the mumble of the hummin'-birds and buzzin' of the bees;
But the air's so appetizin'; and the landscape through the haze
Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days
Is a pictur' that no painter has the colorin' to mock—
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.

The husky, rusty russel of the tossels of the corn,
And the raspin' of the tangled leaves as golden as the morn;
The stubble in the furries—kindo' lonesome-like, but still
A-preachin' sermuns to us of the barns they growed to fill;
The strawstack in the medder, and the reaper in the shed;
The hosses in theyr stalls below—the clover overhead!—
O, it sets my hart a-clickin' like the tickin' of a clock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.

Then your apples all is gethered, and the ones a feller keeps
Is poured around the cellar-floor in red and yaller heaps;
And your cider-makin's over, and your wimmern-folks is through
With theyr mince and apple-butter, and theyr souse and sausage too!...
I don't know how to tell it—but ef such a thing could be
As the angels wantin' boardin', and they'd call around on me—
I'd want to 'commodate 'em—all the whole-indurin' flock—
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.



P.S. Don't forget to roast those pumpkin seeds!!!

Monday HUGS 4 My Friends!!!

We had a great weekend and carved pumpkins at the kids Granny's house!! It was FUN...I'll string the pictures together into a video to share later! Mom made a yummy vat of chili and got a beautiful Harvest Blessings cake! Perfect!!

Here's a sneak peek....

Fair FUN!

It's Monday....and it's quiet at my house. That's a good thing! My kiddos have been off school for a full week! It was County Fair week and our school just goes ahead and closes down as most the students are very involved in 4H and fair things. Anyway....it was a long but fun week filled with lots to do! We got everything done and here I sit quietly home...catching up the house and calming my nerves frazzled by a too busy schedule of the last week! I don't know how it happened (LOL...I fib...) but somehow we've added to our animal friends yet again! I swear my home is a zoo! The kids better take away loads of fun memories wink wink!! We've added: one hedgehog, one gold fish (he came home form the fair), one gerbil and two long tailed green grass lizards. I feel like a brand new mommy all over again! HAHA If I get around to taking pictures....I'll share. But here's a few pictures from the fair....what FUN!

A nothing Post kind of day!

Heehe I have nothing good to post about today! No insights...tips...not even a good recipe =] But I felt like a blog post anyway HA! Life has been busy! I have a baby shower to attend soon...and this shower is a hard one for me! The parents don't want things really baby and cute....NO pastels....NO baby animals...nadda, zip, zilch. Their theme colors are red, black and white. I found one red, black and white teething ring and a baby monitor (white)....now I'll be going to find a non "baby" bag to wrap it in....I'm thinking something in black and white with red tissue paper. If you've got a moment...pray for this shower for me! It's in the family and inlaws don't get along so great...yet they are trying to host this party together....needless to say there is a lot of stress around this "event". My one hope is that the Momma to be doesn't feel this stress and that HER party goes well! Cuz it's about and for her and the baby after all ;) Sometimes party throwers forget that ;)

The busy season is getting ready for our household too! Birthdays all coming up and the start of the holiday season....we count Halloween the start! I'd like to have a few extra people out this fall and am hoping God provides the means , time and ability to do so!

Around the house- We plan to paint my boy's room this month! It's the last room that needs done right now...well the master bath does too but it's more involved as it's stucco type walls need resurfaced....so it may be years before we decide to tackle that one! The boy's room is kinda a large room so it'll take a few nights to accomplish! I have been price shopping some bedding for them...nothing fancy or theme-ish...just something in a nice blue or brown...they have a jade green carpet and blue brown or even maybe burgundy would "go" with it. I'm hoping to find something that will last through high school...basic and universal...."Big Boy room stuff" The twins are turning 13 in December and their brother is now 11 so I think we're done with cowboys, Transformers and theme rooms! I'll try to take pictures of the redo!

I've gotten out my tub of fall goodies and am having fun placing the beautiful colored decorations about the home! I love doing that sort of thing even if it is work!

Hope everyone has a great week ahead! Lift each other up in prayer and continue to touch those whom God brings into your life!