Hello Thursday!

Outside my window...  I was just saying last Sunday it felt like fall.  I take it back.  Three days of mid 90 degree days makes me think summer is here to stay for a while longer.

(the following pictures are of the new planting I did in the garden last week.  We planted lettuce, spinach, kale, collards, broccoli and cauliflower.)

 spaghetti squash

 baby pumpkin

 more spaghetti squash

 cantaloupe

 new batch of tomato plants

I am thinking...  I am thinking about lots of things.  Thinking about a trip to Alaska.  Thinking about gardening.  Thinking about camping.  Thinking about picnics.  Thinking about cooler weather cooking.

I am thankful...  I am always thankful for what the Lord provides for me.  He always blesses more abundantly than I deserve. Someone else posted a verse on facebook the other day that received a blessing from.

Deuteronomy 5:9-10   Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me. . .  And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
Especially comforting is the ending to the verse. . . shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.

In the kitchen...  Tonight form the kitchen we will be having something cooler.  A vegetable pizza.  A baked pizza crust, cream cheese with ranch dressing and an assortment of chopped vegetables and a sprinkling of cheese.

 

(pictured are three quart sized bags of seasoned tomatoe sauce from my garden.  It spent two days cooking down.  It smells heavenly.  Its full of peppers, green onion, sage, basil, thyme and lavender)

I am wearing...  I've got on green today.  Capri pants and a lace tank top.  My feet are bare and my hair is pinned up.

I am creating...  Aahh. . .  the creativity department has been put away for a little while.  I finished the projects to send to Juneau, Alaska.  I've already got some ideas for Christmas gifts.  My little student and I need to decorate the office/schoolroom.  We will be going to the store for some decorations.

 

I made 9 of these little dresses using onsies and fat quarters of fabric.

(*above= these are the things that went into the box to ship to Juneau.  The large ziplock bag on the left contains baby quilts I made for my baby hope chest almost 24 years ago)

(pictured above~ are 10 colorfully decorated burp cloths and 4 over-sized receiving blankets.

(I'm seriously thinking of opening a store with my handmade goods.  On etsy these little dresses are selling for $25.00!)

I am going...Probably to a teacher supply store soon for the above mentioned decorations.  I want to go on a picnic up in the mountains and do a bit of walking with my doggie.

I am praying...  Praying for all the house purchasers I know that are getting new homes.  Praying for many happy memories to be made in their new places.  Praying for my far away children to be content, wise, happy, safe and healthy.  Praying for far away family and friends.  Praying for my witness and spiritual growth.  Praying for good family time.  Praying for Anna who wants to go home.

I am reading...  Picked up a book at the library the other day.  Design on a Crime by Ginny Aikin.  It has been a decent read with a loose Christian plot-line.

 

 

We've finsihed Robin Hood series. 

 

 

We're back to watching the end of the series Merlin. 

 

 

 We've watched several great movies on netflix recently.  The Measure of  a Man,  which would be a great book but I haven't been able to tell if it is a book or not.

I am looking forward to...  My trip to Alaska.  I don't have a date to travel yet.  I have not bought my tickets yet.  I'll be purchasing tickets soon.  Looking forward to hiking in the rain and visiting an Alaska beach.  The weather will be cooler than here at home.  Comfort food and soups and fresh bread will be on the menu!

From the learning rooms...  I ordered my curriculum this week.  English, Literature, Math and Penmanship.  For Science and History we will be doing a form of un-schooling.  Picking items of interest and studying them.  He has suggested different weapons like knives, swords and guns and who made them and for what use.  He wants to look at pond water under a microscope and study blooming cactus and rocks in the desert.

Around the house...  I finally vacuumed after I cleaned up the sewing project.  I didn't do the whole house just the main rooms.  I still need to clean up all the hair dust bunnies that float around.  I've been wanting to update the decor around here with a bit of fall color.  I bought my favorite scent of candle this week, pumpkin.

 

A favorite quote for today...

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me."  ~Erma Bombeck

One of my favorite things...  I've been craving mugs of hot chocolate lately.  It's that fall feeling in the air.

I was reading up in Molasses flavoring different hot drinks like tea, cider and chocolate.  I want to try it.  We bought a jar of Nutella to try the other day.  My husband and son ate it all.  I didn't get to try it.  I heard you could make hot chocolate out of Nutella.  I want to try it also.

 

A few plans for the rest of the week:  I've got company coming on Sunday afternoon.  I plan on smoking some ribs and making peanut butter pie.  I'm not sure what else I will with it.  I though about collard greens.

A peek into my day...  It makes me happy when my kitty wants to be around me.  I love a good kitty cuddle.  She doesn't give out very many cuddles, especially when it's warm.

(She is sitting in my garden basket, its got seeds from the day of planting. The blanket on my lap is one she likes to get cuddles in)

 

Have a great weekend dear friends!

 

Thank you Simple Woman!

 

640 Posts and Counting!

FOR TODAY
Outside my window...  It's August!  Where has the summer gone?  It's been a rather nice summer.  It's cooler this August than it was last August.  We've been averaging about 84 degrees.

I am thinking...  Thinking about what I need to get going and doing the next few weeks.  I've been sick this whole week with a cough and slight fever.  It ruined my plans for what I wanted to accomplish recently.  I did pin many things on Pinterest this week.

I am thankful...  After uploading my former blog on here, I was thinking about how much I have to be thankful for.  I absolutely love living here.  The Lord knows that.  He let us come back and enjoy southern California a bit longer.  I am very thankful for all that I have.

In the kitchen...  Since I have been sick, my husband hired a maid who also cooks for us. . . just joking! :-)  I've still been cooking this week.  Nothing exciting from the kitchen.  My throat is sore, so I've had lots of soup.  I made Hot and Sour Soup on Tuesday.  I had Cheesey Chicken and Rice Soup on Thursday for lunch with grilled cheese sandwich.  Last night I made breakfast, fried eggs, hashbrowns and toast.  Have you seen this? It sorta works...I need to perfect my method a bit.

I am wearing...  I am wearing casual, comfortable clothes right now.  I skipped church today to keep people away from coughing self. 

I am creating...  I completed sewing the crib set for my soon-to-be granddaughter, Cathryn.  I've got a few more projects I want to sew for her.  Things like decorated burp cloths, embellished long sleeve onsies, over-sized receiving blankets.  I've got at least 4 more truck loads of mulch to haul to complete that project.  I've got at least one day to spend in the garden pulling out plants and replanting with a different crop.  The spaghetti squash and pumpkin are blooming and they look really great.

I am going...  I've got to go shopping this week.  Running out of important things like cat food and paper plates.  I missed out on a trip to Seaworld last week because of my coughing self.  I'm also ditching on a return trip to Legoland tomorrow.  That's all I can see for travels for the next few days.  There is a bluegrass festival up in north county on the weekend that I want to attend.

I am praying...  I've been praying recently for far away family.  Exciting changes coming up for some of them.  Praying for little Cathryn.  A few more weeks and we shall meet.  Praying for more family time to spend together.  Praying for wisdom about the future for our little family.

I am reading/watching...  I am between books at the moment.

We've been watching many shows and movies.  A family favorite right now is Robin Hood.

I am looking forward to...  I am looking forward to getting some  all of my projects completed before I head to Alaska to sniff a new baby.

(this will eventually have a whole load of mulch dumped on it!)

Around the house...  Literally a lot of my time has been spent on the computer the last week or so, trying to get this blog organized.  I've got serious cat hair problems floating around on the floor.  Things need vacuuming.

I am pondering...  Does it feel like fall to you as well?  It must be something in the air or the way the sun is positioned.  It feels a bit like fall, even here in southern California.  We ordered a new top for our tent camper.  I can't wait until it gets here because I want to use it to go camping.  Which leads me to ponder...why does one dog owner, careless and irresponsible, ruin things for us responsible dog owners?  Some of the camp grounds around here will allow you to bring your dog.  But said dog is not allowed to go with you on hiking trails or the beach.  And said dog is not allowed to be left alone in your camp spot.   

Some of my favorite things...  it's food this week...

A peek into my days...

Sully and his Dad have been working in the garage on the "TOY" ota.  They are converting the old brake system to disk brakes and replacing the water pump.

Thank you Simple Woman for helping me to get inspired!

Have a great week dear Friends!!

Import All Done

I'm sorry if I crowded up your inbox with things from betheelouwho. I've just finished the arduous task of importing my former blog into this new blog home. Now all my postings are together and I feel better. If you have a rainy day and need to do some 'blog surfing' please feel free to browse. I hope to get back to a regular blog schedule soon.