Friday, January 17, 2014

Just For Fun

Just For Fun

Several weeks ago this was on facebook.  I don't like to post too much public stuff on facebook but was curious.  I took the test to post it onto this blog.  Enjoy reading the results, I think it reflects me pretty well..  I've included the link if you'd like to participate.  Link back to me so I can see the results!

The Reliable Realist

Reliable Realists are down-to-earth and responsible-minded. They are precise, reserved and demanding. Their most prominent quality is reliability and they will always make every effort to keep any promise given.
Reliable Realists are more quiet and serious persons, they do not talk a lot but they are good listeners. They sometimes seem reserved and distant to outsiders although they often have a great deal of wit and esprit. Their strong points are thoroughness, a marked sense of justice, doggedness bordering on pigheadedness and a pragmatic, vigorous and purposeful manner. Reliable Realists do not dither about if something has to be done. They do what is necessary without wasting words.

This personality type not only expects a lot of himself but also of others. Once Reliable Realists have set their mind on something, it is difficult to persuade them otherwise. They do not like to leave anything to chance. Planning means safety to Reliable Realists, as well as order and discipline. They have no problem respecting authorities and hierarchies but do not like to delegate tasks. They are certain that others would not deal with them as conscientiously as they do. In management positions, they are very task-oriented - they make sure that things are well done; however, they do not have a great deal of interest in personal contacts at work.

In relationships too, Reliable Realists are reliability itself. As partners, they are faithful and consistent, well-balanced and sensible. Security and stability are very important to them. They have little time for extravagances and flightiness. Whoever has them as friend or partner can rely on them for a lifetime. However, it takes quite a while for Reliable Realists to enter into a relationship or friendship. They have little need for social contacts; they therefore take great care when choosing partners and friends and limit themselves to a small but exclusive circle which meets their high demands. They tend to show their closeness to people who are important to them by deeds - their partner should rather not expect romantic declarations of love.

 Adjectives that describe your type
introverted, practical, logical, planning, tradition-conscious, organised, persistent, objective, tidy, conscientious, cautious, loyal, peace-loving, sensible, down-to-earth, responsible-minded, reserved, careful, independent, punctual, precise, demanding, ability to concentrate, trustworthy, pedantic, reliable, persevering

Take the personality type test here.

Sunday, January 5, 2014

All Worth While

This was in my email inbox this morning.  I had tears in my eyes as I read it.  After a discouraging weekend in my personal life, this was a pick me up!  It helps me to know that the Savior I serve lets me be a blessing to others even if I don't know how strongly I affect them.  Wonderful.  Thank You Natalie for this encouragement.

Dear Beth,

I just wanted to take the time to say thank you for what you meant to me when you lived here in Kodiak.  I was just reminiscing about you after having read your Christmas letter.  You did so much to help me through my first pregnancy with Cason.  You let me come over even when I had to stay off my feet, you made me maternity culottes, and nursing dresses, you allowed me to come over and relax while you just held the baby.  You might not have realized then what a huge impact that had on me.  I might not have realized it either and thanked you properly, but having had three children (and lost three children) and going through different experiences in my life I look back and treasure your welcoming spirit, your bright smile, and your gracious hospitality.  I enjoyed working with your family singing, and still think of Sully when I hear “In the highway and the hedges”.  It is hard to believe that my Cason is now older than your Sully was when you lived here.  I know you have many churches and church families across America as you transfer often and I am sure you have some special memories of each one.  Our ladies that have been here long enough to remember still talk about your tea party with us.  I know you were a great help to Maggie and I know you probably enjoyed every minute of it.  You were always a baby magnet.  I just really appreciated you and being able to hand Cason off to someone when I needed to play piano, or just needed a break.  I know it is long overdue, but I just wanted to tell you thanks, and to thank you for all the memories I have of your family.  I never got the hand of your weird lighting system in that house, or how the tub became the dividing factor in two bathrooms.  I remember house sitting for you guys and watching Banjo and kitty.  I remember fires in the fire pit outside by the lake.  You were such an asset to the church during that time, and now as we have been here for 8 ½ years it is amazing to see the changes as we look back.  Kaylee and Aaron have gone from teens to parents, and David has a girl on the line soon to be his bride.  I was reading in a devotion book and thought of you when it said to think of an “older” women who has ministered to you as the Titus 2 women.  I just thought I’d write you a note and say thanks.  May the Lord continue to bless you as you serve Him there at your church in California. 

With fond memories, (in Kodiak)
Natalie Stafford 


 " A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. "
John 13:34-35 

    And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Colossians 3:17
  
 

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Another New Year





Happy New Year!

When last we spoke I was in the midst of cookies.  Cookies for neighbors and making cookies for a Christmas Cookie Exchange I hosted December 21st.  Thankfully all the cookies and deserts are now gone and out of the house.  My cookie party was a success.  Including husbands and children I hosted 23 people.  We ate appetizers and COOKIES.  We also played some fun games.  One game was draw the Christmas scene on your head without peeking.  The other fun one was Reindeer Game.




We've had an eventful past few weeks.  Christmas week was a down week.  I was able to blissfully relax and not do too much.  We spent a quiet Christmas Day at home.  I made cinnamon rolls for breakfast.  We feasted on steak and lobster tails in the afternoon after a day of playing with our new toys.





 Daddy received two music stands and a hymnal.
 Sully got lots of stuff.  Lego's, Halo men, Halo computer game, Lawn darts, a football, nerf guns, chocolate and cash.
 I received a Barnes and Noble Nook tablet.  It is kinda neat.  I don't know how much reading I will be doing on it.  I do prefer to have paper pages beneath my fingers.  But I can surf the internet, check email and watch Netflix with it too.  I also received a large pair of diamond and opal earrings.  When I was putting the earrings in my ears, I noticed one opal had a crack all the way through it.  when I went to return the earrings, they did not have another pair.  I exchanged them for a different type of earring altogether.  I will have to take pictures of the new earrings another day.
I jumped right into a couple projects this past week.  One was cleaning out the garden and prepping the soil for the new plantings in a few weeks.  I'm really missing the fresh zucchini.  

The other project is the mulch job I started back in June(when  the power steering in the monster Truck broke.)  I hauled 3 pickup loads of mulch yesterday with only my #2 son to help me.  Manly Man took the day off to help me, and I ended up doing it myself...that is a story for another day... I am still peeved just-so-you-know.  My muscles are sore today so I'm taking a break from finishing that job.  I need one more load to finish that project.  I saw an idea on YouTube I wanted to try.  Placing mulch over the top of cardboard boxes.  The boxes kill the grass and eventually break down under the mulch.  It looked like a lot less work than spading the ground by hand so I thought I'd give it a try.  I'll let you know how successfully that turns out.




Well then, I believe we are almost caught up on my life.  Home School resumes Monday morning.  I'm going to motivate myself to finish my correspondence bible course this year. Really, it's one of my goals :-)  I'll start that Monday morning as well.  Christmas decorations must come down and be put away.  they've been up for almost 6 weeks already!  I must make some  more of that heavenly Carrot Cake Jam.  We were only able to sample one little jar.  It was super good tasting and pretty easy to make.


Carrot Cake Jam
Ingredients

  • 1 can (20 ounces) unsweetened crushed pineapple, undrained
  • 1-1/2 cups shredded carrots
  • 1-1/2 cups chopped peeled ripe pears
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 package (1-3/4 ounces) powdered fruit pectin
  • 6-1/2 cups sugar

Directions

  • In a large saucepan, combine the first seven ingredients. Bring to a
  • boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until pears
  • are tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat; stir in
  • pectin.
  • Bring to a full rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly.
  • Stir in sugar; return to a full rolling boil. Boil for 1 minute,
  • stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; skim off foam.
  • Ladle hot mixture into hot sterilized half-pint jars, leaving 1/4-in.
  • headspace. Remove air bubbles; wipe rims and adjust lids. Process in
  • a boiling-water canner for 5 minutes. Yield: 8 half-pints.
**I did use my immersion blender for a few pulses as my pears did not break down like I expected.  This  gave it a nice consistancy, still chunky but not as chunky as it could have been.

Have a great week dear friends!

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

A Glimpse At My Life



FOR TODAY

Outside my window...  Well it says the high yesterday was 88 degrees.  I believe it.  I opened a few windows and a few doors to the outside temperatures.  It got up to 79 degrees in my house.  a nice change from the chilly days we've had mixed in with the sunshine.  It is expected to be a bit cooler today, maybe around 77 degrees.  There are a few dark clouds in the sky, but threat of rain until Thursday.

I am thinking...  I am relieved to have a major portion of December over.  I can make check marks on my to -do list on items that have completed.  I have a few more things to do and to prepare for.  After Sunday I am taking a week-long stay-cation in my home :-)

I am thankful...  I am always thankful for the provision of the Lord.  I am thankful he allows me to be a blessing to others with my time, talent and treasure.  I am thankful for my home, my family and my friends.

In the kitchen...  I've set out butter, eggs and cream cheese. I want to make some cookies today to pass out to two of my Landlords.  One is a chiropractor, I figure his patients will enjoy the cookies.  

I need to go grocery shopping for meats.  I may make pork chops with wild rice and broccoli tonight.  I've got some amazing Cauliflower growing in the garden and want to make a Cheesey Cauliflower Soup this week.
 
One the menu for Christmas Day...Homemade cinnamon rolls, Steak and Lobster tails with butter, green salad, baked potatoes, cherry cheesecake.  Sounds yummy.  What are you having?


I am wearing...  It's early yet, I'm still in my pajamas.  I MAY get dressed today.

I am creating...  Well that big list I said I had? It is mainly complete.  I keep thinking of things I want to do though. Here is what has been completed since I spoke to you last~
Costumes for play-Done
Donkey for play-Done
8 neighborhood treat package made, assembled and delivered-Done
Invitations made and passed out for Christmas Cookie Exchange Party-Done
2 batches of jam-Done
House clean-Done
Floors shined-Done
House rearranged-Done
Laundry-Done
Things assembled for a Cookie Exchange Party-Done
Christmas Gifts wrapped-Done
200+ Christmas letters and cards with pictures-Done
Flash drives made with pictures for the Grandma's-Done




I still have a few things to do:
1)Make/Assemble games for cookie party
2)find gumdrops to make doorprize for cookie party
3)set tables for cookie party
4)make food for cookie party
5)make cheesecake for church Christmas party
6)bathe dog and his bedding before cookie party
7)Go Christmas shopping for Sully
8)Go meat shopping
9)make cookies and pass out for Landlords (give them Cauliflower?)
10)Make swag and wall hanging for a gift
11)get church Christmas cards signed and ready to pass out

I am going...  I need to make a run to the post office and find a craft store that sells artificial flowers.  Very diapointed in the selection at WalMart and Jo-Ann fabric.  Sometimes I wish for a nice Hobby Lobby.  Christmas shopping. Etc...

I am praying...  I am praying for the desires of my heart.  Praying for far away family.  For health.  For wisdom.

I am reading/watching... I can't remember what book I am reading.  It's a good book.  About a brother and sister who run a boarding house and are solving a mystery.
 

I've been watching Cannon and enjoying it very much.  The boys have been watching Transformers Prime.

I am looking forward to...  Having some more family time.  Those days seem to be few and far between.  My husband is a workaholic.  He told me the other day we couldn't take a family day because there was "intel" that a drug boat 'might' be coming in.  Hello!  Excuse me!  Now I have to plan family time around suspected drug activity?  He isn't even on duty.  Let the duty agents handle it please... okay rant over...for now.

From the learning room...  We are on week 14 in home school.  Right on schedule.  I think we are going to take next week off.  We took last week off as well.

Around the house...  Ahhh...the house looks nice after being neglected for several weeks.  The floors are all shiny, things are dusted.  I've got a potpourri pot simmering with ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.

I am pondering... family time, camping, yard work, garden work, stuff.

A favorite quote for today...  
Christmas doesn't come from a store, 
maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more....”   
 Dr. Seuss
 
My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern,
 is very simple: loving others.
 Come to think of it, 
why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?”
Bob Hope

 
 One of my favorite things...  The smell of Christmas.  Can't you smell it in the air?  the crispness, the sweetness, the tree?


A few plans for the rest of the week:  Completing my lists :-)

A peek into my day...  Posting some photo's of the last few weeks.


Eating breakfast in front of his newly decorated tree.  can you believe this is our Wal Mart bargain artificial tree?  $20.00!
 The family is packed up and ready to go camping over Thanksgiving break.
 Sunset from the campground.
 Our little camp.
 Our church choir caroling at the mall.

 Kammie and Sully posing for a Christmas picture for my Christmas letter.
 ready to practice
 Church Christmas play.  Can you see be behind the BIG, Huge, GIANT music folder?  I had to hold it that high because of the little girl in front of me. :-)
 the keepers of our Christmas family photo's

 the shepherds
 Mayr and Joseph (Sully)


That's all for now folks.  Enjoy your week.
 
Thanks You Simple Woman's Daybook for helping to inspire this post.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Hello blog friends...  my days have been full since returning from Alaska and camping at the end of October. 
(my granddaughter Cathryn, 8 weeks)

Outside my window...  The weather is very weird this week.  We had two days with temperatures over 90 degrees.  Yesterday it was 64 degrees cloudy and windy.  It rained a bit last night.  Today it's cool again about 66 degrees.

I am thinking...  I am thinking about being busy and with all the things we have to accomplish in the next four weeks, it's a long list. 

I am thankful...  I am always thankful for the provision God has given us, myself in particular.  He always meets my needs.  He has blessed with many things.  He continues to answer my prayers.

In the kitchen...  I made biscuits and gravy this morning for breakfast.  I was going to make a nice lunch today but got to cleaning house, washing the dog, washing the dogs bedding and cleaning the kitchen, I did not get anything put together for today.  So now, I am thinking about eating carne asada nachos. Yum.

I've put together a beef stew for tomorrow after church.  My stew has parsnips, onion and carrots form garden.  I used some smoked pork broth for the liquid in my stew.  It's going to taste so good.

I am wearing...  I've got capri pants and wild orange colored  blouse on today.  My hair is a bit wild as well.

I am creating...  I've got lots of things on the list to create.
a) Christmas flower arrangement for church
b) Christmas props for the church Christmas program
c) Practice Christmas music and pick a Christmas song to sing solo
d)  Sew a nice camouflage mattress cover for the camper bed
e)  Christmas presents
f)  Compose our Christmas letter
g)  Take our Christmas photos
 h)  Organize the church Thanksgiving dinner
i)  Smoke a turkey, Cook a turkey, cook a ham for church Thanksgiving dinner
j)  Plan a camping trip for the week of Thanksgiving

I am going...  Tomorrow is church day.  I've not really got any plans to go anywhere the next few days.

I am wondering...  I am wondering where to find enough time in the day to get things done.  I am wondering what to do for my granddaughter for Christmas.  I am wondering

I am reading/watching...  We just went to the library and brought home a stack of new books.  I did read Kinsey and Me by sue Grafton and enjoyed the compilation of short stories about Kinsey.  


I found a new detective that I LOVE a few weeks ago, Barnaby Jones.  We've started watching the series on Netflicks.

I am praying...  I am praying for far away family to be safe, happy and grow closer to the Lord.  Praying for the desires of my heart.  Praying for visitors at church.  Praying for health.  Praying for wisdom.

I am looking forward to...  We're planning  a camping trip Thanksgiving week instead doing a big dinner here at the house.  I'm looking forward to quiet and campfires.

From the learning rooms...My student kept up with his studies while we were in Alaska.  We're right on schedule.  Those first nine weeks are filled with so much review of what he learned last year with a few new concepts thrown in.  He was tasked with writing a report of either our family camping trip or his trip to Alaska.  He chose his trip to Alaska.  He's got a first draft done and is in the process of corrections and working on content and flow of his story.

Around the house...  We've been thinking about Christmas around here.  We've been thinking about a tree.  We're wondering whether to buy a real tree again this year or to get an artificial tree.  We had a live tree last year and it did not survive the transplanting process.  We are leaning toward artificial and if we get one soon we'll put up Christmas decorations too.

The house is fairly clean.  The carpets were vacuumed this morning.  When we returned from Alaska I moved the position of my bed back in front of the big window and I like it soo much better.

A favorite quote for today...  "Be grateful for the home you have, knowing that at this moment, 

One of my favorite things...  I love this time of year.  The colors the smells.  The temperature.  It gives me a reason to purchase more of these. . .

A peek into my days...  These are a few pictures from the camping trip we went on immediately upon returning from Alaska.  We spent 6 days in the eastern Sierra Mountains near Mammoth Lakes listening to nature sounds, gold-panning, hiking and driving the TOY-ota.
 This is our camp set up
 that's me inspecting a hot spring.  It was too hot to even touch.
 Trying to get Banjo to pose.  We're inspecting a huge crater in a lava flow
 we found snow
 the mountains and beautiful fall scenery kept me drooling
 I love this area of California

Honestly... I will try to be better at updating my blog.  

Have a great week dear friends!

Thank you simple woman for inspiration for this post today.