Big Mama

Have you ever read Big Mama? If not, you should run right over there and read her blog. She is an everyday Mom who is absolutely hilarious. Usually I read her because she can make a trip to the grocery store the most exciting and funny thing ever. Today she wrote about the love Christians should have for others and each other. It's a wonderful post. I wish I had the ability to convey a message like she does. Go on over and read up!

Spring is Almost Here!

I think Punxsutawney Phil knows what he's talking about! It seems we've been having spring like weather for a couple of weeks now. We've had some cold weather, but overall it's been very pleasant.

I'm sooo ready for spring! As a matter of fact my husband and I have all of our seed and plant catalogs out and are making lists. Time has snuck up on me (yes I said snuck! lol) because I thought we were getting an early start, but I'm thinking we're a little behind! Of course, having a grandson being born will throw timing off. I've been in a "Grandma Warp" for three weeks now. I turn into complete mush every time I see that little guy! But, back to gardening! I am very excited for some new planting this year!

Since last fall we've purchased 16 acres. Actually it's 15 point something, but I don't remember the exact number. We have big plans for that little plot of land! There are 36 acres for sale where we bought and we're hoping to be able to buy it all at some point. Hubby wants to put cows for sure and I would like chickens, too. He also wants pigs, but I've heard some negative things about pigs. Anyone have any experience with them? We also plan to till up a huge garden plot and the land is mostly rolling hills so we want to plant some trees as well. Dream. Dream. Dream.

I also have plans for the house we're actually living in! lol I'm afraid we get so sidetracked with dreaming about what's to come that we forget about the present. I would love to plant some more flowers around the yard. We also need to mulch this year. We usually add fresh mulch every couple of years. I suppose some people do it every year, but it's a costly job so we don't do it that often.

Inside the house I need to paint the living room, foyer, and hallway. That has been on my projects list for approximately forever!! I really dislike painting and I'm so indecisive with deciding a color. I need to just do it! I went to an Uppercase Living party last night and found some beautiful things I want to put on the walls, but the walls need painting first! Maybe that will be my inspiration to get it done?

What's that saying? The best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time? I guess I better get to biting! I have a huge elephant to eat!

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for a sink that's broken. Because attached to that broken sink is a beautiful silestone counter top. Attached to that counter top are walls to a warm and cozy home. And inside that warm and cozy home are people I love.

The End.

Homekeeper's Journal

I just love doing these posts. Visit Christian Homekeeper to participate!

In my homey kitchen …..
Unfortunately nothing is going on in my homey kitchen. I am waiting for the sink to be fixed and then all sorts of yummy goodness will flow out!

My thoughts on being at home ……
I have always enjoyed being at home. Sometimes I wonder if I don't enjoy it a little too much. I have to really make myself go out and do things because I'd much rather be home.

A constant habit I have of making my home comfortable is ….
I love burning candles and my latest thing is Scentsy warmers. Love them! I also like to keep everything clutter free (as much as I can with my packrat husband! lol) and clean.

If I could change the decor of my home ….
Oh, I have thought about this a hundred times. Usually about this time of year when everything has been closed up do I get the 'hankerin' to want a change. I don't have the decorating gene, though. I would love to have someone come in and give me some ideas. I have friends who have homes that look as though they should be in a magazine. They are still welcoming and inviting, but decorated very nicely.

What I want my children/spouse/other family to remember about my home is …
They were welcomed and loved here. They can brush off the harshness of the world and come in and feel safe and secure.

Home …
Makes me happy. I adore being home and having people in my home.

Tried and Tested... and Failing

We're having some kitchen issues... and I'm not handling it in the meek and quiet spirit that I would like.

It all started 2 years ago with a brand. spanking. new. Kenmore dishwasher. Oh how I loved it. It's black shiny and has lots of features and it even won the Good Housekeeping seal of approval. It has jets that shoot water from all around getting the dishes from every angle. I can delay washing the dishes for 2, 4, or even 6 hours! Oooh! Sounds lovely doesn't it? The problem?

It doesn't work!!!!!

I should have realized right from the beginning. It didn't clean how I was hoping, but I thought, "Give it a chance. Maybe I got overly ambitious and over loaded it." Still it didn't perform how I'd hoped. "Okay", I thought, "Maybe I'm not using the right detergent." Because Walmart did stop selling my favorite brand. But, that's for another post.

The most recent violation in my dishwasher saga is when, for the past three times of running it, all the dishes on the top rack are still dirty. Not a spot here and there. Not something dried on that would be hard for any good dishwasher to tackle. No. D.I.R.T.Y. As if no water or detergent had ever touched them. Greasy bowls that my husband took leftovers in. Still greasy. Orange color from the spaghetti we had. Still orange. Milk from the cereal. Still there. And let's not mention the fact that my glasses come out with a lovely gritty feeling. Nothing like handing a glass to a guest and having to say, "Oh wait. That one is dirty. Let me see if I can find you a clean one!" UGH!

I'm so over this dishwasher! Last week I finally decided I would just start washing the dishes by hand. So I ran myself a sink full of hot sudsy water, filled my sink with dirty dishes and decided to check my Facebook while the water cooled down some. ;0)

As I'm sitting at the table enjoying my hazelnut coffee and seeing what's up with all my friends I hear it. Drip. DRip. DRIp. DRIP! I go to investigate and see that my sink pipe is leaking!!!!

Not to be deterred I put a pan under the sink to catch the water and go on with my life. Continuing to wash the dishes by hand and with a leaky sink.

Finally, last night hubby was home early enough to try to tighten the thingy around the pipe to stop the dripping. And then it happened... He broke the thingy!!!

So after much wailing here I sit on Tuesday morning at 9:32 with a counter, table, and sink full of dirty dishes with no way to wash them.

I would like to say that I am completely calm and I'll just find other things to do today, but no, I'll most likely spend a good bit of time lamenting the fact that I can't wash my dishes and knowing that later I'll be in here for hours getting them all done!

Have a good day! :~)

Sweet Happenings...

I was at Kristin's Thursday night helping her get the bed made up for the baby. She opened up a new hamper she got as a shower gift and started putting all the blankets in it that she wants to wash. As she was putting them in I spotted one that looked familiar and I told her I had a blanket just like that for her and Katie when they were babies. I said it even had the same fringe on it and everything. She said, "I know. This is it." I just looked at it and got teary eyed and said, "No it's not!" She assured me that it was. A year ago when she got married and was packing up her things to move it was in with some other blankets so she took it with her. (Not knowing how soon she would need it! )She plans to wash it and use it to wrap the baby in the hospital and have him lay on it for his newborn pictures at the hospital. It was a special moment for me to have her want to wrap her baby in the same blanket I wrapped her in. It's tattered and worn (went through 2 girls and is 24 years old!) but it's very special.

So, if using the baby blanket from her childhood for her baby isn't sweet enough another sweet thing happened. Kristin and Travis went to a small Christian school where K-12 were all in one building and the Kindergarten teacher never lost touch with her students. Mrs. Barker (kindergarten teacher) moved away a few years ago to be closer to one of her sons. Her husband has Parkinson's disease and she knew she would eventually need help with him. Anyway, yesterday Kristin received a package in the mail from Mrs. Barker. It was some figurines she had received from Travis for Christmas when she had him in her class. They had his name and date on the bottom of them. She sent a note that said, "These treasures will mean nothing to my children when I pass, but they will mean something to yours. I thought you might like to have them." Is that the sweetest thing or what? Of course I cried. The Barkers have been special to our family for many years. They moved about 2 hours away and we try to visit them about once a year or so.

I posted these stories as two separate posts on a message board I'm on. So, if they sound discombobulated that's why! lol

Homekeeper's Journal

This weeks Homekeeper's Journal is about time. Visit Sylvia at Christian Homekeeper to participate.

In My Winter Kitchen its time to ……….
Clean my oven. Some cheese spilled last time I made pizza. Now when I turn the oven on I have to open a window to let the smoke out, even though it's winter!

My biggest Time-Waster seems to be ……
TV or computer take your pick. Definitely have to watch those two.

I do/do not view Time as a gift from God and here is why……
Yes, I do consider time a gift from God. I think every breath we take comes from Him and we shouldn't waste our time because at any moment he could decide that we've had enough.

When others are slow or dawdle I ………
Depends on the situation. If I'm going to church or have an appointment I don't tolerate dawdling from my girls. I remember having a teen aged daughter who was spending a good deal of time trying to figure out what to wear to church. When it was time to go I told her we were leaving. Got my coat, purse and keys and heard her yelling, "wait I'm almost ready" as I went out the door. She was never late again. :-)

One way that I make good use of time in my household is …
I try to keep a schedule although it doesn't always work. The older I get and the more experience I attain in my homemaking the better I am at making good use of my time.