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!

Book Review: The Life Giving Home

I was wanting a read that would inspire me as a mom. This summer has already been so busy. And I know that May will soon fade into August. I have been de-cluttering, cleaning, organizing, trying to work down my "fix-it" list. But about a week ago I had an urge to be refreshed and inspired.  I asked a few mom friends for a book suggestion. Thinking that someone would know of a great devotional. But that suggestion never came.  One evening I was shopping on Amazon and looking at a book-- for a whole other purpose and this book came up in the "others also bought" list! SO I CLICKED BUY

The book arrived--and I was consumed! My heart was alive! I am constantly remembering small things that my family has enjoyed in the past. I have stopped to take time to do the small things that the boys want to do.

This time of refreshing can only be summed up in a quote I read once:  

"Try to create the HOME you would want to live in."

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window--today was slightly bleak here in Kentucky...this morning it spit snow and was just a cold breezy day.

I am thinking--that I didn't get everything accomplished that I had on my mind this morning...but I visited an old friend, text a couple distant friends, spent some time with my family just hanging out...so laundry will get caught up... but today's important moments were captured.

I am thinking--that I need more days like today :-)

One of my favorite things--today is TIME.

I am creating--a trial warp on my Ashford Knitters

 Loom---many of the yarns are bits left from past projects.

I am reading--this is the current read-a-loud that I am reading to the boys

I am wearing--a dark green olive turtle neck and plaid skirt that I got for my birthday

I am hoping--that I can come up with a great dish to take to a potluck on Sunday~~I never know what to take to those...sigh...

I am learning--to control the laundry monster!

In my kitchen--I made a breakfast casserole!

Postscript--Anchors Bows and Lace

My niece Hannah's Etsy shop--she is 16!!what a young lady!!

Quote of the day--try to create a home you would want to live in 

[not sure where I heard it--but it is my goal]

Moment of my day--Today I visited a dear friend at her new weaving studio!!  Instantly I felt right at home.  It brought back lots of warm memories of days I sat in her yarn shop learning to knit and weave!  while making a friend that I kept even after the shop closed!

Closing notes--always take a picture...I found this picture today from February 2006-  my husbands grandmother holding Nate's hand.  Granny Eula is gone...but I have this lovely picture to share with Nate!

I am linking this post to The Simple Woman's Daybook

Laundry Win!

So I am the "Queen of Maybe Pinterest Knows".  Seriously. ..in 2015 if you call your mom or best girlfriend needing a recipe, knitting stitch, dieting tips, identifying a toddler rash--whatever. ..they will all say "let's check Pinterest! "

In my Pinterest feed I see all this cool stuff---but are they really doing it?!

This week I read several pins about laundry softeners--the dangers and the costs. So I tried one and here is my results after 4 loads!

Easy Peasy!!!

***add 1 bottle of lavender essential oil to 1 gallon of vinegar. 

Then use that as your fabric softener in your wash. I added about 1/8 cup to each load. Every load smells great and is so soft!

WHAT ABOUT STATIC?

Okay this is pure scientific magic!

Pull out that box of aluminum foil and tear off about 6 or 7 sheets 12 or so inches long. Wad them up into a ball and toss it in the dryer with the next load! It worked for me!

**the ball will come out smooth 

**keep reusing the same ball

(When should you toss it and start a new one? The very moment your ADD takes over and you want to make a new one!)