Almost Everything

"If you have a garden and a library you have everything you need."  Cicero

All I Have Is Christ

Trevor Update

"Take my picture with my eyes crossed. I've never seen my eyes crossed."

Having Some Fun

Sometimes you have to just do it, because you can...

In the Quiet Moments

In the quiet moments of my heart, I often wonder if I have done the best that I can do.  We do not get a second chance.  Wouldn't that be so very nice, to have a chance to do over something that you later regret.  Oh, but we can learn from those mistakes and not repeat them.  That is kind of like a second chance. 

I just took a look back at the last 3 years in pictures.  My life is so different now, completely different, almost.  We've spent the last three years correcting a huge mistake by the grace of God.  Those pictures reminded me that I need to slow down and think about the next three years. 

In three years my children will be 15, 13 and 11.  Three short years will go by like a flash.  I must be diligent, flexible, kind, and very intentional.  I must guard our time.  I must make the most of every opportunity while allowing plenty of time to just be a family. 

Looking at old pictures makes me feel very contemplative.  My life right now is one of those old pictures in the making.  I ask myself, "What do I want to "think" when I look back at a picture from this time in my life?"  Certainly, I do not want to only think of what might have been.  I hope to have fond rememberances and that is going to take effort on my part right now.  So, off I go... to make the most of this lovely day.  And one day, I hope that I will look back on this time and know that I did my best. 

Updated Photo Requested

It was brought to my attention, that perhaps my few dear blog readers might think that my dad is a hippy.  Was that what you said, Dad?  Anyway, here is the most recent photo that I have of the 6 of us.  Is that better?  :-)  Love you! 

To My Daddy

Happy Father's Day! I love you.
I wish we could spend this day together and that all the miles did not come between us, but those miles only separate us physically, not emotionally.  I am glad that you love California.  It sounds like a wonderful place for you to be.  And I am thankful that you call me each and every day.
Love,
Jenn

Apron Pictures

If you would like to see pictures of my finished apron, please click here.

About to Finish...

My mom is on her way!  We are going to finish the apron today. And, since she has the only camera in the family, I am hoping she will take a photo and upload it for me before too long today.  I pledge to be more assertive today and not let her do it all for me.  I am, after all, a grown woman!  Seam ripper will be standing by.  That's all for now.  Check back tomorrow for a picture. 
~Jenn

A Tribute to My Grandpa

My grandpa is an original, one of a kind.  I don't think there was anything he could not fix or do.  He has a love of nature & books that he passed onto me.  He loved to bake sourdough bread.  I will never forget the smell of his "radio room", a mixture of oil, sweat, and dirt!  He led a simple life.  He is devoted to his one wife of over 65 years.  He raised two lovely daughters of which one is my mom.  He likes pie.  If you ask him what his favorite kind of pie is, he will say "hot or cold."  He loves to feed and watch birds.  He used to grow a huge garden.  He used to canoe down White River, camping out on a sand bar when he decided it was time to stop.   He loves chocolate bars.  He served in WWII as a radio operator.  He loves old movies, westerns.  He likes to go for long drives in the country, stopping at an old country-style restaurant.   He used to make lot of things:  a side-car for his bike for us to ride in, wooden bowls, a play kitchen for me for Christmas, so many things.  Like I said before, there was nothing he could not build, fix or do. 

But now the time is coming that we will have to say good-bye.  It is very difficult to watch someone you love suffer.  I really love my grandpa, so many people do.   He is losing the battle with cancer, which is so hard to fight when you are 90.  I am 42 and he is the first "real" grandparent that I have had to face this with.  My paternal grandpa died awhile back, but I did not know him very well.  He chose not to be part of our lives.  I have been very blessed to have my Grandpa to love and be loved by. 

I am going to see him on Monday.  I just want to hug him and tell him I love him.  ♥

Grace's Dance Class

So far, so good, after one class & a new pair of ballet shoes! 

Sewing Lessons Continue

I am a BIG chicken.  There. It is now out in the open. I am afraid to finish my apron.  I am afraid I will make a mistake.  (Don't get me started on how I am afraid of my sewing machine that only does one stitch and won't wind a bobbin.)  I look at how my mom finishes something and marvel.  "How did she know to do that?" goes through my mind.  I read the same instructions that she reads.  She gets it.  I don't.  Let me tell you, those instructions leave a lot to the imagination and I have no sewing imagination!!!  So, I am not going to touch the apron without my mom by my side.  I am not!  You will just have to come back next week to see it finished. By the way, I included a picture of Grace who is busy making a scarf.  She is much better than I am, proving the crafting gene skipped my generation.    

Time for a Grandparent Update Post

Yes, the kids are growing like weeds.  I hear this all the time and it is so true! 

Grace had her first dance class last night and came home pretty tired.  She also said,"I am the most beginner of the beginner's class." 

Smore overload?

Ryan on the other hand is busy in his room building Lego ships and listening to Klove on the radio for hours.  Another sign of growing up, I suppose.  Could be worse things to do on a lazy summer afternoon. 

That leaves my baby, Trevor, to report on. He has discovered a new talent, washing off the dishes for me to put into the dishwasher. He loves it! He is my most eager worker. What a joy, he is.

No, that is not a real working phone, although he really wants one. "Why?"I ask. "To talk to you, Mommy!"he says. (Have to love that.)

Not Ashamed of Economy

One of my favorite books to get from the library is, The American Frugal Housewife, Dedicated to Those Who Are Not Ashamed of Economy, by Mrs.Lydia Maria Child.  I love her informal and straight-to-the-point style.  I am sure her opinions were controversial in her day.  My favorite quote comes from the first paragraph.

 "The true economy of housekeeping is simply the art of gathering up all the fragments, so that nothing be lost.  I mean fragments of time, as well as materials.  Nothing should be thrown away so long as it is possible to make any use of it, however trifling that use may be; and whatever be the size of a family, every member should be employed in the earning or saving money." 

 Fantastic stuff!  I also enjoy the chapter entitled, "How to Endure Poverty."  She writes,"A mind full of piety and knowledge is always rich; it is a bank that never fails; it yields a perpetual dividend of happiness."  She goes on to describe a visit to an alms house where she met a lovely lady contrasted with a bitter woman, both of equal misfortune.  I love the section of the book called, "Hints to Persons of Moderate Fortune."  She talks about timely ideas.  "Not one friend will be gained by living beyond your means, and old age will be left to comparative, if not to utter poverty."  There are some good recipes, too.  My 10 year old daughter made "Cup Cake," a very good shortbread type of cake.

Cup Cake
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
3 cups flour
4 eggs
Mix together, bake for 20 min.  (The recipe doesn't give temperatures because I am sure that was not thought of then.  I baked it at 350. and it took longer.)

If you come across this little gem, give it a read.
~Jenn

Green Beans in the Garden

This is one of my favorites, so I thought I'd share it here. 
By the way, our green beans are growing! I will post an update as soon as the camera situation is worked out.

Also, if you are interested, there is a great give away going on at Raising Homemakers. You can enter to win a set of the West Sisters DVDs, something I would really love to own. If I do not win, I have hopes to buy the one about  gardening for my daughter's 11th birthday in July.  I think she'd love them all, as well!