ABC's of housework

Aprons – Yes or No? 

Yes, full body, old fashioned style aprons are my favorite. Though  I too often forget to put one on until I am in the middle of a messy cooking adventure.

Bathrooms – How many do you have?

Two indoor and one outhouse.

Clothesline – Do you have one?
Yes, we use it often but not exclusively.

Dusting – How often?
Three times per week is our goal in different areas of the house each time with our Norwex dusting mitt.

Everyday – One housekeeping task you do everyday?
Make lunch.

Family – Does your family help with household chores?

Yes, most definitely.

Garbage Disposal – Do you have one?
No.  We have a compost-type area out back.

Home Management Notebook – Do you use one? What’s in it?
I have tried that,.. but on my own can't make them work for me.

Ironing – Love it or hate it?
I am thankful that I can still do it.  Though, I am glad that I don't have to iron everything like the old days.

Junk Drawer – Where is it?
In the kitchen/computer area of our house.

Kitchen – Design and decor?
50's/French eclectic style.

Love – What is your favorite part of homemaking?
Around 4 or 5 pm when we are all working on the evening meal either washing up piles of prep.items or setting the table or chopping up an ingredient for the main course....all sorts of activities happening together along with visiting or listening to some inspiring music together as we work.
Mopping – How often does it get done?
Maybe once a week.

Natural Cleaning Products– Do you use them?
Yes. Yes!  We use Norwex cleaning products.  They clean without chemicals..just the cloths and water.

Overwhelmed – What part of homemaking stresses you out the most?

Clutter.

Pets – Do you have any mess-making critters in the house?
Yes a small dog.

Quiet – What do you enjoy doing when you get a quiet moment?
Sitting on the glider in the living room with a recent magazine like Victoria or Tea Time; my mini-vacation.

Recipes – How do you organize them?
Three-ring binders.

Style of House – What kind of home do you live in?
One level, rambler type.

Tablecloth – Do you use one on a regular basis?
We usually have woven place mats on the table instead.
Under the Kitchen Sink – What do you have under there?
Vases, soaps and misc. cleaning stuff.

Vacuuming – How many times a week does it get done?
Three.

Washing Clothes – How many loads do you do a week?
Three to five.

X’s – Do you keep a to-do list and cross the tasks off?
No, but I should.

Yard Work – Who does what?
We all do.

ZZZ’s – What is your last housekeeping task of the day?

Getting the kitchen tidied up and some prep for breakfast.

Unusual critter in our kitchen..

The model for a requested little boy's birthday cake.

The formed reptile..

The crumb-coat to hold it all together...

The fondant covered critter; scary teeth and spiny back and tail and all.

A little boy's dream cake..  

~He really liked it a lot!~

A January day at the Bay Window Quilt Shop in Perham!

Several ladies car pooled about an hour north to this creative and fun quilter's dream store.  It was a cold winter day outside but inside it was warm, colorful and inspiring.  Needless to say we had a lovely time.

Early January Pincushion Embellishing

The felt wool base all shaped and dry.

Some of my decorating options.

Tools  for  decorating

Starting the embroidery work with the pearl cotton.

 

One of the finished pincushions.

This is the one my friend in Vermont picked for a
bridal shower gift .

An Early Morning Thought

I know it sounds fantastic; but think it over. It seems to me that we often, almost sulkily, reject the good that God offers us because, at that moment, we expected some other good . . . On every level of our life . . . we are always harking back to some occasion which seemed to us to reach perfection, setting that up as a norm, and depreciating all other occasions by comparison. But these occasions, I now suspect, are often full of their own new blessing, if only we would lay ourselves open to it. God shows us a new facet of the glory, and we refuse to look at it because we’re still looking for the old one. 

. . . And the joke, or tragedy, of it all is that these golden moments in the past, which are so tormenting if we erect them into a norm, are entirely nourishing, wholesome, and enchanting if we are content to accept them for what they are, for memories. Properly bedded down in a past which we do not miserably try to conjure back, they will send up exquisite growths. Leave the bulbs alone, and the new flowers will come up. Grub them up and hope, by fondling and sniffing, to get last year’s blooms, and you will get nothing.”

from Letters to Malcolm, Chiefly on Prayer, by C. S. Lewis.

CHRISTmas 2011

This is a Christmas tree decoration that I found in a second-hand store or a garage sale a year or two ago. 

 Someone made it and enjoyed it for a time and now we are

glad to have it among our ornaments.

The creativeness of mankind - God's creation - makes

me step back and marvel. 

 I love works of art such as this!

I love the idea of re-using Christmas cards

that are going to be discarded!

Growing or declining??

Alyssa reading in our front yard.

Every individual is growing, changing, developing,
or declining—intellectually, emotionally, spiritually,
physically, and psychologically.

A family is a grouping of individuals who are affecting
each other intellectually, emotionally, spiritually,
physically, psychologically.

~ Edith Schaeffer, What Is a Family?

The valuable, the beautiful, and the noble

Much is required of us. Our days are filled with many tasks that can sometimes seem mundane and of little worth, but if we can grasp the incredible truth of what sacrificial service really means, then our entire outlook will be transformed. When done for the Lord, the commonplace will become noble, the prosaic will become beautiful, and the unimportant will become valuable."
~Jennifer McBride

Gumpaste Flowers

The latest project we have been working on a little each day: making Calla Lilies in hopes to get some realistic looking creations to make a wedding cake topper for a friend.

 This is the initial step of making the shape and letting them dry.

 The color being applied.

 More time to hang and dry.

These are not totally finished..they still need some fine tuning and some Luster Dust application.

Next some roses and berries need to be made to add to the Calla Lilies for the cake topper.

Lovely Quote

"Blessed is the woman who has a smile in her voice, a sparkle in her eyes,

a song on her lips;

a spring in her step,

a warmth in her touch,

a depth in her beauty,

a purpose for her life,

 a joy in her faith,

a hope in her breast and a love in her heart."
~ William Arthur Ward

An Outing

 Rich and I went on an outing last week.  We traveled to the Buckwheat Growers mill to purchase organic grain for our small goat herd. After that was accomplished, we traveled to the village of Ottertail.  The main reason for coming here was to have lunch and enjoy The Williams Company Store. While there I asked the pleasant clerk for permission to take a few pictures.  

                                                                                                       

So here they are...pictures of a very favorite store in our area.

A front shot of The Williams Company Store...very inviting!

We ordered lunch:  a sandwich and a wrap. This was taken from our table which was located in the far corner of the shop.

..a large cup of freshly made coffee...it was very flavorful!

Rich's plate..the other part of the sandwich was being eaten as I took this!

...another quick picture.(the front door is to the left.) The case to the right has jewelery and misc small items..

..standing toward the back of the store facing the front door.. are soaps, candles, lotions, cards, journals, and many  unique decorative and bathroom  items.

Rich..paying for our lunch..This lady was most diligent in her work and very gracious in serving us.

 The lunch was delicious! This store enhances my homey creative focus. Now we will be heading back home.  One last picture in front of our pickup and a couple of other nice shops near The Williams Company Store are behind the pickup.

This was a most enjoyable little day trip...why go across the country for a respite.  It was like a breath of fresh air!

What I've been making.....pincushions!

Natural Black felted wool  pincushion ~ for sale on Etsy.

A rustic heart embellished felted wool pincushion ~ for sale on Etsy.

Another similar pincushion ~ for sale on Etsy

A mohair pincushion ~ A Christmas gift for Amy 2010.

While visiting with a friend yesterday she shared this quote:
"Don't let what you can not do interfere with what you can do."
~ by  John Wooden

These pincushions have been fun to make and embellish and seem like such a little thing.

Having put them on Etsy to sell recently, they have helped bring some income in and some of it will be used today for gas money so we can visit with friends.

These are among the things I 'can' do here and now.

I am thankful that I can and am glad for the loving reminder to keep on with these do-able projects.

Saturday....Together..

the setting sun in the west at our place

Earlier today we had our typical Saturday lunch:  baked  potatoes with various toppings, which we ate while watching an old VHS of "This Old House".  This 'old house' in Massachusetts had termites!  We have enjoyed this old program for many years together.

Now we are bustling in the warm kitchen; Christmas music is playing as we visit and make supper. Outdoors the sky is gray and the landscape white. A neighbor family stopped by earlier to deliver a plate of Christmas cookies and wish us a Merry Christmas.


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The following photos are of miscellaneous happenings and projects of the past week or so.

~ Peppermint ice cream cake~made for my birthday! ~

..making Mozzarella cheese..

~ A Christmas Tea at a friend's home! ~

~ a plate of cookies they made ~

~ the festive table ~

~Below are some items we have been working on to sell on Etsy~

~ one of the felted wool pincushions ~

~ pink royal icing flowers atop frosted cupcakes ~

                     

~ a table runner..pieced and hand quilted ~

~ a purple hand-knit neck scarf  ~

Memories of my dad: Just try....

Cliff Cushman was the focus of the daily reading from the book Courage To Run by Jim Ryun that my husband read to us at the breakfast table.  This man, Mr. Cushman,  wrote an open letter regarding his failed attempt at the 400-meter hurdle in the 1964 Olympics. Here, highlighted in red, is what Mr. Cushman wrote:

Don't feel sorry for me...In a split second, all the many years of training, pain, sweat, blisters and agony of running were simply and irrevocably wiped out. But I tried!  I would much rather fail knowing that I put forth an honest effort than never to have tried at all..  Over 15 years ago, I  saw a star;  first place in the Olympic games.  I literally started running after it.  In 1960, I came within three yards of grabbing it (the gold medal); I stumbled and fell and watched it recede four more years away.  Certainly I was very disappointed in falling flat on my face.  However, there is nothing I can do about it now but get up, pick the cinders from my wounds and take one more step, followed by one more, and one more, until the steps turn into miles, and miles into success.  I know I may never make it, The odds are against me, but I have something in my favor-desire and faith.

Romans 5: 3-5: "We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us." 

At least I am going to try. How about you?...

I dare you to clean up your language.  
I dare you to honor your father and mother.
I dare you to unselfishly help someone less fortunate than yourself and enjoy the wonderful feeling that goes with it.
I dare you to look up at the stars, not down at the mud, and set you sights on one of them that, up to now, you thought was unattainable.
You may be surprised at what you can achieve with sincere effort.  So get up, pick the cinders out of your wounds and take one more step, I dare you!

Cliff went on to become a captain in the U.S. Air Force and was sent to Vietnam. His plane was shot down in 1966 and he is still listed as missing in action. His life shows that he tried;  he had desire and he had faith. I have heard it said that one out of one person dies. Yet living life with the fear of failing is such a waste. The older I get the more I want to keep trying; and not give in or give up on living each day with hope, with desire. I also know that I can not do it in my own strength, though.

This story reminded me of one of the things I continue to be thankful for in my dad, a hard working yet creative farmer: he always encouraged us to try. Creativity was and is birthed in that. Failures happen, yes, especially when the effort is selfish. This article reminded me that: one person plus God is a much better way to pursue ideas that He may be the author of...in my life anyway. Have a memory-making day!

Dad in his 20's.

Dad celebrating his birthday with his grandchildren approximately 20 years ago.