Life - Lived

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...  It's hot.  I feel fall but San Diego does not.  It must be the daylight or the suns place in the sky that makes it feel like fall.  I am missing fall colored leaves and apple picking.

I am thinking...  Thinking about my cruise.  About 4 weeks away now!

I am thankful...  I am thankful that the Lord provides over and above what I could ask or think.  It is because we are good stewards with what God has given us that we are able to go on this cruise.  Or buy another car. Or have all the 'nice' things we have.

In the kitchen...  I am craving all those colder weather comfort foods.  Casseroles, roasted chicken, turkey, mashed potatoes, soup, clam chowder, fresh baked bread. . .ahhhh

I am wearing...felling a bit fat and frumpy lately.  I painted my fingers and toes hoping to boost my spirit.

(ha-ha-ha)

I have been shopping E-Bay to purchase a few dresses for my cruise.

I am creating...  My granddaughter turns ONE in a few weeks.  I did a bit of sewing for her birthday. 

I also survived making my first fresh floral arrangement for a wedding.  I thought the flowers turned out very well.  They almost paled in comparison to the beautiful bride.

(This is the look I was going for)

(and how they turned out)

My garden needs lots of work.  Next week I vowed to take a few days and rip out old growth, till in some fertilizer, compost and diatomaceous earth into my garden boxes.  My WONDERFUL husband offered to make me a greenhouse type cover for tomatoes if I wanted to grow them over the winter.  Well, Yes I think I will!

I am going...To the Panama Canal baby!!

I am praying...  I am  praying for my Uncle Curt...  for his health.  For his testimony.  For folks to see Jesus through him and my Aunt Denny.  I am praying for far away family.  For wisdom for the future.

I am reading...  I have been reading several mystery books by the author M.C. Beaton.  Of course no library I visit carries any series of books in the order in which they are written.  She writes fairly decent and I am enjoying the books.

I am looking forward to...  Cooler weather...

From the learning rooms...  My student is back at his studies.  Today is day 2.  Is it bad that I don't have a picture of him holding his grade level sign on his first day?  We are using the same curriculum, Landmark Freedom Baptist.  I changed this year a bit.  We are doing 5th grade Math and English and 6th grade History and Science. Our Literature studies will be book reading and book reports and several studies on poetry. I  am calling him a 6th grader to fit in with other kids his age.  I figure it's not too big of a deal if he was already testing at 6th, 7th and 8th grade levels TWO years ago.

Around the house...  The house is quiet and warm.  I have not turned on the AC today.  It is fairly clean.  Maybe a bit dusty.  I cleaned toilets and sinks in the bathroom today.

I am thinking...I have another blog post on causing a brother to offend (sin).  Basically about your testimony and how it affects others.

A peek at recent happenings...A friend at church needed a haircut and couldn't afford the $30.00+ price tag.  I hinted that I cut hair and would be willing to chop hers for free.  She jumped at the chance to have me whack her hair off.  We had tea before the endeavor!

What we did over the weekend...  Camping, unplugged.  Family time=Fabulous!

Some folks we met along the way... Stephanie, Patrick, Titus, Annabelle and Kaylyn.















Until next time~ Be Blessed!

Thank You Simple Woman for inspiration for another blog post!

What's Going On Around Here?

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...  It is hot.  It's been fairly nice off and on all month.  I think we are finally getting our HOT summer waether, just in time for August.  So far today it is 93 degrees.  Tomorrow it's supposed to be 99 degrees.

I am thinking...  I am thinking about getting some things done.  I've got a King size quilt to cut and sew.  I want to re-do my picture wall.  I also want to re-do some of the photo albums.

I am thankful...I am thankful for my 25th wedding anniversary present!  We're going on another cruise. We're going on a 15 day Panama Canal Cruise and taking Sully with us this time.  We made the final payment today and found out that Sully is FREE.  Check it out!  www.ncl.com

In the kitchen...  I've got spaghetti sauce cooking in the crock pot.  I'll make some noodles and garlic bread to go with the sauce. 

I am wearing...  I just painted my nails a bright orange and added white flowers on my big toe.

 

I am creating...  There are many things going on right now in the creating department.  Tonight is our first night of Vacation Bible School.  We're planning on going for a total of 5 days.  I am doing crafts with the children.  

 my friend Laura and I making disguises for VBS

The garden is doing well.  I think the Okra is almost finished.  Most of the cucumbers have died back.  We have Lots and LOTS of carrots.  I am not happy with the tomatoes this year.  I think my dirt is missing something key, but I am not sure what that may be.  I'm going to try chicken fertilizer when I plant again in the fall.

A LARGE Zucchini and a Black Diamond Watermelon.

There is the big patchwork quilt also.  I've got most of the fabric and have a pattern in mind.  I just have to sew.

I've got company coming from the first two weeks in August.  A young lady is going to be married.  I am going to make her bouquet.  It will be a fresh floral bouquet, my first.  I am also going to help decorate as well.  It is a small outdoor wedding in a park.  It should be very interesting, especially if the heat continues.

 

 

 

I am going...  I think I am going to try to do something fun next week in celebration of living through 5 days of Vacation Bible School.  Not sure what I want to do yet.

I am praying...  Praying for the Lord's will in our lives.  It's the 2 year mark at my husbands work.  In the past, that has been the time to think about where to go next.  We're wanting to stay in San Diego as long as we can.  We're praying about another re-tour here and then retirement.  So maybe we could be here six more years?  Praying for far away family. . .praying that those who know Christ will grow closer to him, be good witnesses and that the ones who don't know HIM, will.

And since we're throwing out hopes and dreams for the future, I found a great retirement property for us.  I am sure it wont be around in 6 years but a gal can always dream right? 

I am reading...  I am reading Diane Mott Davidson right now.  She writes catering mysteries and includes recipes at the end of the book.

I am looking forward to...  I always love a good camping trip.  When my life is extra busy at planning, such as this big VBS, I dream about the quieter life of camping in nature-unplugged.  Not really sure what in particular I am looking forward to though.

 

(The camper rebuild project is almost done.  He's got a bit of cedar to put under the seats and lights to install.)

From the learning rooms...  We are taking a break from studies at the moment.  My student has been practicing piano and doing lessons.  His next Piano Recital is "Movie Themes"  He has chosen SKYFALL.

Around the house...  My house is in need of a good vacuum job.  I managed to squeeze in putting some aluminum foil over the windows in the bedrooms today.  We have a new window unit air conditioner.  The old one bit the dust three weeks ago on a Sunday afternoon.  We shall see if having a new unit is any more affordable to run than the old unit.  When the company comes in August I am thinking of borrowing another portable air conditioning unit and running it in my bedroom with a giant fan propelling the cooler air down the hallway to the the other bedrooms.

A favorite quote for today...

One of my favorite things... One thing I've been liking and craving on a really hot day . . .

A few plans for the rest of the week: VBS=Tired=REST

 

 

thank you Simple Woman for helping me find inspiration on these dog days of summer!

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Have a great day!

Beets

Dinner plate sized beets.  This made two batches of pickled beets on Saturday.

Soaking In San Diego Life

 

 Now that we have a special canoe hauling car, we took advantage of another nice San Diego Saturday and went fishing on the bay.  The fish that my wonderful husband is holding is actually one I caught.  I have to let him take the fish off the hooks because he has all the tackle by his seat.  He says this is a type of Bass.

 This next fish is one that he caught.

we hosted a special church potluck on Father's Day.  We grilled Carne Asada and enjoyed a mexican style feast.  We held a baptism as well.  It is a first for our hot-tub.  We were thrilled to be a part of Chicacco's special day.

I wish blogger would let the video's be of better quality.  I'll have to research that a bit more and see if I can figure out why they turn out this way.  My Wonderful husband is getting better at Mandolin playing, he sure has fun.

My Wonderful husband has been rebuilding our tent trailer.  He welded a new frame, almost starting the rebuilding from scratch.  The other one was made of particle board and was "literally"  held together with just one screw.  I think some of our off road journey's were a bit much for the old trailer.  Now he is ready to put the skin on the outside and try to get the slide- in bedframe and 'tent' back on.  I'll be sure to post pictures when it's all complete.

 

Here is my Wonderful Husband posing with his two more of his girlfriends, the mandolin and the Octave Mandolin.

My Wonderful Husband was able to take a personal day this week.  Were able to spend the day at the San Diego County Fair.  I don't remember what the above flower is, but it sure was AMAZING.  That is really what color it was.  The picture below was during the sky-ride across  the grounds. Beautiful.

Here is out Sully testing out his shooting skill.  He didn't win this particular game but won at FOUR others.

 

This is Sully and his Dad on a ride.

 

This is one of the FOUR games that he won.  He is holding his prize, a white and orange spotted goldfish, who is still un-named.

 

 

These are the three other prizes he won.  He had a GOOD day.

 

I met all my best girls (Tonya and her daughters) at our favorite beach on Shelter Island for a lunchtime hot dog roast.  Banjo is doing what I told him. . . STAY.  But he is keeping his eye on me while I am unloading the car.

And here is Sully, unable to resist a dip in the freezing bay water.

 

And baby Alex flying her own kite.  She eventually tired of doing it by herself and we tied the kite to a chair.

This lady came down with three huge sacks of treats for the Seagulls.  The acted  very excited that she was there.  

We've been taking the TOY-ota most Wednesday's to the car show here in our little downtown area.  This week was movie theme cars.  I only took pictures of my favorites.  Some of the ones I didn't get photo's of were:  The General Lee, Roscoe P. Coaltranes Sheriffs Car, The Green Lantern Car, Herbie the Love Bug and Starsky and Hutch's car.

And from the garden this week:  Okra.  I've got almost two quarts in the freezer now.

I love how they look like little flowers.

 

 

This is the leaf from the pumpkin plant called "Warty Thing"  I think it's just beautiful.  With it's little warts on the leaves.  No pumpkins yet.

 

I can't remember the name of this one.  He is cute.

 

This is one of the first Black Diamond Watermelons.  It is about as big as my thumb.  There are three total on the vines so far.

 

 The neighbors have already been benefiting from the produce fairy leaving goodies at their door.  My zucchini and cucumbers seem to be going crazy.  If we leave the zucchini just a day too long, they grow over 12 inches  and weigh over a pound EACH. 

This last one is a spaghetti squash.  I think we'll be able to get two crops of some some of the squashes this year.

Last night we enjoyed a cultural event.  We attend a concert of  'The Piano Guys'  It was AMAZING!

Sully is posing with his 'cocktail' a Ginger Beer.  He didn't like it, at all.

This is the stage, right before Jon Schimdt and Steven Sharp Nelson came on stage.

I wish this was a better picture but there was HUGE signs all over, Warning that photography WAS NOT ALLOWED!  So I am dragging out my chirping, beeping camera to sneak a picture.

Taking a picture beside a Lexxus.  They were the event sponsors.

 

 We've been busily enjoying life.  How about you?