Treasures in my yard

I had a friend pass on to the next life this week.  And of course I am reminded to treasure every day. This afternoon I was out enjoying my yard and decided to share it:

Flowers that were on clearance and pitiful a couple of weeks ago.

Look at this guy...I have heard that the ugliest caterpillars make the prettiest moths--I hope so! He is on my lovely Kentucky Coffee Tree

My guys and their friends have climbed and made forts in these trees for years.

My first jalapeno pepper--I am sure I will eat it by Monday!! 

Tomatoes happening!

This apple tree is full--but look at the leaves!  I haven't noticed red and yellow spots on the leaves before.  My other apple trees have beautiful leaves but no fruit.

...sigh... my small garden...this year I felt this was all I could tend. Even so if it is like in years past I will probably still be able to can beans from it and be able to share too!

I hope you are having a lovely summer and taking time to enjoy it!

Grace For Today

2 Corinthians 12:9King James Version (KJV) 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

For six years and twenty-two days I have known that I was ill.  Many days I think that I only realize the symptoms. I have good days and I have better days. For three years and eleven months I have been walking. My gait is not always smooth but it has been worse.

Then there are days like today where I sail through and suddenly I just have to sit or rest and remember that sometimes I just have to slow down wait until I am functional again.

From the time I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis I have asked that people pray:
#1 that I would be healed
#2 that I would have grace
#3 that I wouldn't become bitter

I have purposed to live aware and not afraid.

I don't know how I will be tomorrow or even next week. For a couple of hours today I felt that I was slipping into an "episode" but now I am at peace and looking forward to tomorrow in hope of another good day.

From My Porch

Here is the view from my porch tonight. It is a lovely 81°. The sun is slowly setting. 

My lazy cat is napping so he will be ready for his hunt tonight. I know he hunts at night because in the morning there will be part of a mouse caught from the night before.

I came out to read and write but I had to move out of the rocker because a hummingbird kept whizzing by my face. I moved and he left. I don't understand this game but he tries to play it a lot.

I text my neighbor and mentioned she might join me on the porch for tea. My porch is my favorite room. An old friend came by Monday got out of her car and said don't worry about your house let's sit on the porch and visit.

We all need to get back to porch visiting.

Thanks for sharing a visit on my porch.

Finishing My Bullet Journal

I used to be a scrapbooker--life got busy.

I have always been a list maker.  And a planner.  I prefer paper planners.  And I have tried and successfully used several.  I have used the classy and sufficient Filofax. I have been through a few Plum Paper Planners and enjoyed each one of them.   My favorite homeschooling planner is the A Plan in Place Planner --hands down.  

I am nearing the end of my Leuchtturm 1917 Notebook. Last fall I got into bullet journaling.  And indeed that is the best book for it. Why am I returning to a planner?  I need the monthly calendar and the weekly to keep me on track with my household.

I truly love the detail of a bullet journal so I will probably get another Leuchtturm notebook and I will include task lists, project notes and Common Place musings :-) 

Here are a few of my bullet journal pages

 Daily Tasks

Another trial tasks page

Common bullet journal set up

Index page

Summer Oil Study

For a couple of years I have had an interest in essential oils and I have collected quite a few.  So far I have only used them to scent homemade cleaners.  But I have decided to get serious--no, I don't plan to get involved in a multi-level sales adventure, however, I am not opposed to purchasing from you if you do sell and educate :-)

So, this book arrived today:  Essential Oils of the Bible.  I am only a few hours into it and in love!  The book has so many recipes and scientific facts behind the usages.

Studying essential oils is my summer self-improvement project!  For me this is a fun read--often I read a lot but it usually has to so with the guys homeschooling.

Please  leave me a comment and share your favorite oil and how you use it!

Friend Mail

I have heard of people who received fan mail...and it piles up.  The person who sent it they would not know. They may hire someone to reply to the fans.

Friend mail...touches the heart of the recipient. Even if the mail is sent from someone in their distant past.

Friend mail is way different than a notice that someone wants to "friend" you.

Take time to send a note today through the mail. It is like hug.

What to say in the note?

**reference a memory with them. You don't have to recount the whole story.

**share a simple event from your day

**tell the title of a book you are reading

**cut an article from the paper or a magazine

(Or print off an article on line you think they might enjoy)

A couple of years ago I wrote a letter to an elderly man, who had been one of my teachers over 20 years ago in college...and he wrote back!  In fact he wrote back twice before I ever responded to his letter!  He wrote me until he died several months later.  Was I his favorite student? No, probably not... that doesn't matter. I was definitely one of his favorite in the last few months. Why? Because I let him know that I remembered him and he was important. I am so glad that we had correspondence before he passed.

Take time to let someone know that they are not forgotten. A short note may be just the hug they need today.

Homemade Spray Starch

I am drawn to simplicity and purity.  July 4th will be 4 year anniversary of my personal commitment to changing my diet and lifestyle to improve my health.  I do give the credit to God for the improvement of my condition. I wholeheartedly believe that He lead me to the knowledge of what changes I needed to make and the grace to carry through. I continue to study ways to improve my heath and for the last several months I have tried to avoid toxins even not food related. 

 My latest venture is starch for ironing. I had already begun to use non aresol starch.  And wondered if I could make my own... so this is what I finally got to suit me:

1 1/2 cup hot water

(Not boiling)

1 1/4  T corn starch

Stir in the starch while water simmers. When corn starch is dissolved pour into glass spray bottle. Add 1/4 cup of water. Then add +/- 5 drops of lavender essential oil.

EX LIBRIS

I love books.
I love to read.
Yeah, usually I have more than one book going at a time.
I love to talk about books.

Today I want to share my must reads. I could suggest so many books. But these are the ones that I am so sure of that often I gift these! {I am a believer in gifting what I love!}

Christian Experience

MISSIONS

MARRIAGE

HOMEMAKING

{these books are my reference!}

ETIQUETTE

There are many, many more books that I love... but these are the top ten that I always have to ask others who are passionate about similar interests to mine if they have read.

I do read by Kindle--but all these are worthy of owning and worthy prominent display in my home.

Sneaky Math

Math review does no always have to be formal!

A great game of dominoes is a super math exercise  I love to pull out the double 15 set.  It is a wonderful tool for sharpening those quick addition facts. And the ultimate math muscles at the end when it is time to add up the big scores!

Another quick way to sneak in some math is to have the player to figure out the mixed number of the domino if you look at it as a fraction.

Have a great summer!  

Elizabethtown Historic Walking Tour

Today is Kentucky's 225th birthday! We celebrated by doing a tour of our town! Local actors told the story of our town. 

This walking tour is every Thursday evening starting on the first Thursday of June and running until mid September.

The tour starts in front of Vibe Coffee Shop at 7PM. Stories come to life on the sidewalks and gives a whole new appreciation to our downtown.