What a fantastic weekend....

I hope that everyone had a safe and fun weekend.
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We had a wonderful weekend.. We worked our tushies off (well I hope I worked some off) in the garden this weekend. We Barbecued every night except tonight... everyone went there own ways and Russ and I decided to treat ourselves to a dinner out.. Russ has worked his butt off and I told him to choose. He loves Mexican so we went to Carlos O Kelly's... It was so nice to sit and be served..
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We saw the kids and they stopped by at all times and I knew they would so I made a big batch of Homemade mac and cheese and I had bought meat and alot of it I did...steaks and burgers... and I also had a huge fruit salad I had made.. so when ever one of the kids came by we would grill and just enjoy seeing them....It couldn't get any better than that...We needed this kind of weekend..
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I bought something that I never thought I would... My dad is probably shaking his head because when I was young I wanted no part of it...My Dad love to farm... I was alot like my mom, a city girl but my mom sewed and quilted and never really got into farming... She did bottle feed a baby calf one time... I did help my dad with the vegetable garden and he taught me alot or I should say everything I know about gardening...We did have a Brahma bull named Sunbeam and he would eat my sweet tarts and I did have attachment to Sunbeam or Sunny has we called him...Now I did not live on a farm....My dad was a Vet and he would keep his herd of cows and we had ponies and we kept them at Mr Coopers farm and in return my dad helped Mr. Cooper with his animals...we had our veggie garden at our home in the city.... Well this weekend I decided to buy chicken poop....I thought I would never do that in a million years...Yes I have chicken poop... I used it when I planted all my veggies this weekend...I know my brother is shaking his head...Love you bro...My dad is probably chuckling because I have turned into country city farming lady on my little piece of land God provided for us and I have to say I am darn proud...Even tho my dad is not here on earth but I do feel him especially when I am in the garden...
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Pictures below...



Here is a picture of the chicken poop...20 pounds of it to....and boy does it smell different then regular fertilizer... Not bad at all and not the chemicals...

My butter nut squash...this whole area was full of weeds this weekend...We spent alot of time pulling weeds...I wished I had taken before...I always forget to take pictures of before... I am going to plant corn in back of the squash all along the fence line...

Acorn squash to the right...

Sweet banana peppers..

Most of the garden area...the center with the green windmill is going to be pumpkins and corn...

My tomatoes...I hate weeds...I really do...even with black weed block it doesn't stop it...

Spaghetti squash is planted in this area...There is another bed like this that will have another type of squash...i forgot the name...I have never grown it before...

Peach trees...we bought a peach tree this weekend...we have another one to...Our grass needs to be mowed so bad...

Some herbs...rosemary and chives

This is my lemon bush or tree...it is loaded with buds...I have had it for 3 years and it is covered with lemons...I can't wait...I bring it in the house for winter.. I guess it is getting use to it...I can't wait for the lemons...

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This coming weekend we have a huge project that we NEED to get done... Our yard has different levels...We have a retaining wall by the deck and it is bowing real bad...It needs to be done..If it doesn't get done it will collapse and then it will collapse on the deck post and that could possible collapse the deck to...it is going to cost us alot supplies... So Tim and Jessie and maybe Dave if he doesn't have to work are coming and we are going to work on the retaining wall...I told the kids we would have a nice cook out with grilling after it is all done..I really didn't want to do it this weekend because It will be Tim's and Jessie's first anniversary...I can not believe a year has past...It doesn't bother them they said because they have known each other for 6 years....We will do something special for them...Tim and Russ want to get it done before it gets way to hot...We have to take down part of the screened in porch to get to the retaining wall....so it is a big huge project...I am so thankful to have kids who are willing to help us...each retaining block weighs like 70 pounds...and there is alot to take down and put back up and then rebuild...just not a fun job...

Well that is it for now...Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend..

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Russ has tomorrow off and I am so glad he has one day to rest.

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Till next time may your day bring you many blessings...

weekend...

Wishing you a safe and Happy Memorial Weekend.

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Will not be on the computer much this weekend.. We have a lot to do..We want to complete the garden...get everything planted and seeds in.. There is a lot to do.. I am so looking forward to it..I will be working in the garden this morning and getting a head start on planting..Lots and lots to do.

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I know our kids will be dropping in and Kim will be home for the weekend..So planning on grilling and having extra food to grill... It is suppose to be great weather..

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Stay safe and enjoy..

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Till next time have a wonderful day with many blessings..

I should be.......

I should be working in the garden this morning..I should be planting and weeding...The weather is gorgeous...windows open..sunny and just beautiful..

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This kind of weather brings smiles to everyone...it's not humid..

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Last night Tim came by to help his dad work on the lawn mower.. Sometimes I think of the worse case senerio of things.. When the lawn mower died in the middle of mowing my back yard I just knew it was something big with this lawn mower..I didn't want to have to pay for repairs or buy a new one...Russ had stopped and bought a new spark plug hoping that was it..I just knew it wasn't...in our household things are not that simple...Well guess what?? It was simple...It needed a new sparky!! I was so jazzed..

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Why am I not in the garden?? I want to so bad...Dave ordered a new cell phone...And it is coming today and it is signatured required...If it was his day off I would make him sit and wait but he is in Minnesota with job training..Hopefully Fed Ex will come early and I can play...if not there is tomorrow and saturday...we will have everything planted by saturday...then I can watch everything grow and produce..

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So now I need to turn to doing things in my home.

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Hope everyone has a beautiful Thursday and may it be filled with many Blessings...

Linens and things..

Good morning to you..

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I changed my look of the blog because I want to honor our Men and Women of the past and ones that are serving now and ones who will be serving..THANK YOU for fighting for our freedom..

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I was talking with Russ as I was digging through some linens..I collect linens and never use them.. I put them away for later use...even tho most of the linens I buy are from auctions and yard sales...I was thinking to myself yesterday why do I put things away for later use..It use to be that the kids were young and I didn't want them ruined?? I asked myself what is your excuse now?? Well I have none.. So I decided to dig some out..I am going to use them and enjoy them.

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The same is with sewing material...I collect it..I never use it because I want it for later use.

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Why do I save things for later use?? Why can't I use them now..Why can't I create something out of the material I have and enjoy it now?? I have no idea how I became this way.. I have a feeling it was from the 3 lay offs we went through at the beginning of our marriage...I saved things just in case there is no job and I will have nice things.. We never know what is going to happen.. I have all these things collected and not used...If I were to die tomorrow I would never get to use them...It was the same with renting our homes.. I would scrub and clean and paint for the next person so it will look brand new...Why didn't I do that while we were there to enjoy? If I were to sell our home I would have it totally cleaned top to bottom...I was thinking the same today why can't I really keep it clean top to bottom everyday...Goodness it is just Russ and I...I use to blame the messiness on my kids and I am finding we leave our own trails to.

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So today I am starting to use my linens that I collected....I am going to use some of the sewing material I have stocked up..Some I look at and just laugh and wonder why did I even like this then...so all the stuff I thought was okay at the time and it turns my stomach is going to Goodwill..

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It's the same with different wine glasses that are never used...Who says you have to drink wine out of something nice.. I think some raspberry ice tea would look awesome in a wine glass.

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Russ summed it all up last night, when I was questioning all these things..He said hon they didn't cost much and we can always look for more bargains for you to enjoy instead of putting it away...Then he goes it would be neat to use all the bargains I have had for years.

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So today I will be bargain hunting at Goodwill to put away after I use all the bargains I have had put away for years...The I am going to come home and clean from top to bottom so I can enjoy my clean spic and span home instead of a new person..

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May your day be filled with many Blessings..

reflections...

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Tuesday.

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I looked out this morning out to the west of our home and I saw billowing thunder heads and told Russ that they are beautiful right now but we will have storms alittle later...as the news was on and the weatherman had just said there are some clouds to the west but they won't amount to much.. I laughed and told my husband you got to be kidding.. and about an hour and half later is was raining and thundering..Russ said he was in a meeting and he goes in all the years he has been working he has never heard it pounding on the roof like it did.. I think the weatherman instead of looking at the Doppler radar all they need to is look at the sky and the clouds..

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Well this post is about reflections with me with the last 6 months...Back in January I wrote about changes taking place in our home... Most changes I have kept and some I just could not do with out...as the title of my blog is about R & L Homespun life...it's about Russ and my life...the changes we are making and the changes we made but went back to..

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Our Health...we slip up on it alot...We slip up on eating out and eating the wrong foods.. We don't have to suffer and not eat anything fun...because we do eat good foods that are fun.. So our challenge for this upcoming month of June to each other is grill grill and more grilling...Actually it is up to me to plan our menu...The main thing is I have to conquer if I am to tired I NEED to still cook..I am planning to cook 4 or 5 meals and freeze them so when I am tired or should I say lazy I can pull these dinners out...We will always be working on our health...

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Salt... is one of the hardest things to shake...I haven't completely cut it out...I can say we have cut way back shaking it on the food...I use half of what I use to do in cooking..I feel like I have come along way.

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Eggs and Meat... Organic eggs only and I buy organic chicken only...red meat I have changed alot more then I thought I would...Come summer I want to meet up again with grass fed farmers and buy from them now on and stock up for the winter months...I have come along way.

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Soda pop...Well that is 100% complete failure on my part...the pop companies have this control over me...Have I cut back yes and then go back full steam ahead...I am an addicted pop drinker...I have tried cold turkey and as you see I couldn't do it...So I gave in...I am a weakling...when I don't think about not quiting I drink less and less...So I tell myself I am allowed to drink it...I figure it is better then saying no and craving for it and having more then I needed...There are some days I can go a few days without drinking because I do not put that pressure on myself...So I tell myself it is not meant to be in quitting this pop addiction... :)

FaceBook... I do not play the games anymore... And I make some comments on it but I am backing away from that..I would like to get away from it 100%...I would rather hear some ones voice then text messages and facebook..I feel you disconnect from people this way..

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Paper Products.. This is one area I have gone back to... I just can't live without the paper products..With animals I need them in the house...We don't use many napkins but we use paper napkins...I felt I was using more water and electricity washing hand towels and cloth napkins..I had to weigh the pros and cons on this...Do I feel like a failure? no.

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Beating myself up...I am not longer doing that...I use to beat myself up emotionally if I went to try something and I failed at it.. I learning that it was meant not to be..

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Simplified life... This has been a issue because many friends don't understand it...Only a few friends understand it and I choose to stay friends with them.. I have learned not to take things so personally if someone doesn't like what I am doing...I would change to please everyone around me.. I was not being true to myself and I was miserable... I can not explain the inner peace I have by living our simplified life.. I choose to live my life this way for no one but for us...Russ loves seeing me laugh...Because of this simplified life our love is so much stronger... Our life is changing everyday with new seasons..

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Our Garden... the changes in this area is so great... Last year I was doing it it alone because Russ had surgery on his hand...He hated me doing it all...This year he wants it bigger and better...It is so much fun watching him dream about what he wants planted... Last weekend we were at Lowe's...He said Hon do we have pumpkins and cantaloupe?? I said no and he was like a kid in a candy store... I have no idea where he is going to put them.. he said he would find a place... Russ has a 4 day weekend coming up and he told me that he wanted to finish the garden beds and get everything planted so we can watch our garden grow..

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The Head of our Home.... We have not been to church in ages...It doesn't mean we don't pray and read our Bibles..One thing that will never change in our home is who is the umbrella over our heads or the head of our home and that is Our Lord... I am not a Bible pusher.. I live my life according to the way the Lord expects me to..I live my life for the Lord...Everything I do or anything that happens I praise God for it...sometimes life gets a little down but that is to strengthen my walk with the Lord...I try and be the Proverbs 31 woman preparing our home.

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My Goals....are to continue on the same path I am on... Russ wants to take classes on small engine repairs...we now have a defunct lawn mower...Dan my son came to mow the back yard and the lawn mower crapped out..We ended up weed whacking half the back yard...NOT fun when it was 87 outside...we got it done...I think it is wonderful Russ is going to take these classes...I always think it is wonderful to know many things...Redoing our screened in porch...I would love to have hanging edible plants providing food for us...I still want to make many plans to live off this piece of land God provided for us... I would love to grow veggies out front...not all over but put things in our flower beds...bush style plants...Would love to have different colored peppers out front.

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In my sewing room I want to finish my mom's quilts she has started... I want to make my own quilts to...I want to create things with my hands...That is why I turned Dave's old bedroom into a sewing room...This room is 100% sewing room...not half sewing room and half bedroom...Hopefully in 6 months I can come back and say this is what I have accomplished.

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Hope your day is filled with many Blessings...

Till next time...

A Picture post...

This is the lot my Son and his wife will be building there home on..I told them they should ask the builder to keep one of those huge stones in the front yard and put their house number on it and then circle the stone with flowers... Jessica loved the idea...

We went yard saleing on saturday and I bought some cook books and these are two of them...

I bought the set of 3 trees...YUP that's right I am ready for Christmas...hee hee..not really...but I couldn't pass these up...The lamp in the picture was also bought at a yard sale..

The trellis or arbor was also bought..I spent a few hours weeding today..The weeds have taken over in the last 2 weeks.. With helping move people and all the other things going on we didn't have time to tend to the garden so each morning this week I will be working in the garden...Under the arbor is a grape vine..we bought 2 more today and I will be planting them in the morning.. it was so HOT today...going from 60's and low 70's to 90*s and higher does you in..All week we are suppose to be warm...AC is on..

This is my sewing table before I covered it with recycled tires made to look like wood flooring...

This is the table now...I have so much to organize in this room.. I still have remnants of Dave's stuff...see if you can find the Ninja Turtle...one of his favorite toys and he has kept it since they were a hit show when he was growing up.....

This is coming up to my front door...In the pots are my herbs...and yes there are some weeds among the pots...I just haven't had the time..But I am making time this week..
This is a screen I bought on saturday at a yard sale...I have some ideas...either redo the pumpkins or replace the screening and start over....I am leaning on replacing the screening and painting "welcome" on it and then painting sunflowers on it..i am a sunflower freak..I love them...

Saturday we went out to the Tanger Outlet Mall and I was shocked in how the stores have changed and how expensive the stuff is...at the Corning Ware Outlet I saw some soup bowls. I wanted to add 2 more to my set of 2...Tim and Jessie bought me 2 for mother's day...They wanted $9.99 for them and Tim told me NOT to get them there because Walmarts sells them for $5.99...sorry walmarts it will be...it's suppose to be a outlet mall...So I did not get much of anything there..I probably won't go for a long time...

Today was working on the garden till it was to hot to work...not being use to the heat was so hard..I have to work up to the heat again..

All in all it was a great weekend..

Hope you had a great weekend and may your week be filled with many blessings..

Friday....

For some reason I can not download picture the last few days...Will have to ask my son what is going on next time he is here...

It has been a crazy week for me..or last few days...I just want a simple life and I sometimes wonder if I am going in the wrong direction. "sigh"...It seems it is getting more crazy..

Our new daughter in law stopped by to give me some boxes so I can pack up some of Dave's stuff...I am turning Dave's room into a sewing room..It is 80% completed..Well Jessie unloaded alot of things on Russ and I...Guess what it was NOT about Tim.. I am not going into details about it..I do understand her mom 100% to..I don't think Tim and Jessie was very happy with me siding with her mom..They are living with her mom until their house is built... Her mom just moved into her home after divorcing and she is starting her life over and she now has 2 adult kids come to live with her which she agreed to..By the way they are NOT the neatest kids either..I don't think her mom had any idea these kids had that much stuff..they loaded a 26 foot u-haul..Well it is all in her moms basement..Her mom wants to move on with her life...I understand that..Sometimes our kids think we should put a hold on our lives.. I explained this all to Tim and Jessie and they seemed to feel better about the situation..I have learned to keep my mouth shut at times..I told them my door is opened to them and we would figure out things..BUT they could NOT move all that stuff in my home..That they would have to put the stuff in a storage place or keep it at her moms.....I think Jessie's mom just wants privacy at times and I told the kids if they wanted they could stay with us at times to give her mom a breather.. I told them they needed to talk this out with her mom...not me and her mom.. One thing I have learned is that I can not be the rescuer all the time...They need to do things on their own...I will tell you it was so very hard not to swoop in and rescue them and tell them what their decision had to be..They had to make their decision to talk with her mom.. And they did and it is working out to where they are staying there and they will give her breaks and come here when she needs the break..

Yesterday I went with Tim and Jessie to pick out their kitchen cabs...again they wanted me to make a decision...I told them no I will not do that..I said I am honored you wanted me here with them but they have to live with the cabs. My son if I picked something and he didn't like it, I would hear it for the rest of my life...So I said nope nautta it's your choice...they did picked out the builders choice cabinets with maple wood with a cherry stain...Gorgeous...They would have liked granite but they went with one that looked like granite...gorgeous again..They did pick out marble counter tops for the bathrooms...They wanted to know what I thought..I told her that I know she loves marble and that I am not saying anything..My son goes mom doens't like marble...And that is the truth!!!!They did pick a pretty color of marble that will go with the cherry finish cabs...it was fun watching them..

Today I started the day off early...I had piled things in my daughters room from Dave's room...Well Kim informed me that she was coming home this weekend..SOOoooooo the boxes Jessie brought me I started putting the things that were in Kim's room in them...So her room is done....then I started laundry...My son came by to borrow the de-humidifer for the basement he is living in...he said it is so damp...So he will have it for a few days...see if it dries it up at some point..

I went to Peck's Garden Center and got a lot of veggies..all mine had died and I will NEVER start from seed again.."Sigh" I am not good at it..So for now on when I start talking about planting from seeds remind me it doesn't work for...Even tho Russ said we will conquer it one day..ha..that's what he thinks... I am set to plant tomorrow...YEAH!!! I am so excited...the next week we will be warm..I am so excited about it..today is damp and cool..my knees feel it to..

As of right now my daughter is driving home and Dave is on his way back from Minnesota...Pray for safe travels...

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend..

Till next time..

New Blog Name...

Good morning...

I have changed my blogs name..I realized reading some of your blogs that there is another blog with the same name..I don't know who had theirs first..I think it may have been the other one..I decided to change my name alittle...

A couple of years ago I decided I was going to go into crafts and wanted to sell my crafts at bazaars...so I set up a small business account not knowing I did not really need one..But I named my small craft business R & L Homespun crafts.. Well I wanted to name my blog that but decided my blog isn't about my crafts...it's about our life...so that is why I named my blog R&L Homespun Life..makes sense to me...

I have alot of goals in the future that pretains to this blog and I will be explaining it in the near future...as my life has changed big time being a empty nester and my life is going into a wonderful new season..

I hope it hasn't caused to many problems with changing the name...
Have a wonderful day and may it be filled with many blessings..
Till next time..

lamb on the loose..

Good morning, Hope everyone had a great weekend....mine was and it flew by so fast..

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Saturday we were very busy and then Sunday was my son's birthday...We had a nice Mexican Fiesta and packed everything for Dan to take home to have some left overs..

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Sunday night I thought I was going to relax and crochet..My friend Penny called me and said be on the look out for a lamb.... Of course I said what?? In our neighborhood lambs are not common....well in 13 years I have never seen one in our neighborhood...So I go out front and I see kids chasing something towards Edgewood road...NOT GOOD...Very busy road... So the next thing I know it she is jumping out of her truck and coming to the door....She asked for a dogs leash...So I grab it and said Russ I'm going to get a sheep....the look was priceless...So Penny and I take off...We go down the street and a guy was in his yard and we told him about the sheep and we said you probably think we are nuts but there is a lamb on the run...Well we round the corner and there it is...So Penny and I jump out of the truck and then a whole bunch of people come to help...The man we asked about the lamb who thought we were totally nuts and standing on the corner with hands on his waist shaking his head and I turned to him and said I just wanted to let you know we are not crazy...he laughed...Some teen age boys were a great help....They had their garage door open and we cornered the lamb in the garage and they shut the door....The door raises and the sheep was on a leash...it was just so funny....The guy on the corner well his wife came out with two little girls.. She comes across the street to show the girls and I whispered to her and said we don't have many days with lambs in the neighborhood...She laughed and she said her husband really thought we were nuts at first...The farmer came and got the lamb we caught.. I walked home and had some very good exercise and excitement to end the weekend...Penny and the farmer took the lamb home...they had caught 2 and 3 were still missing... Will find out if they were ever found...

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Well this weekend I tore my sewing room down..My son wanted the computer desk and it was "L" shaped...I really couldn't spread out my work projects....So I asked Dan if he wanted it...So he took it back with him to his place last night...I will be taking apart the bed and storing it downstairs till Dave moves...I am going to line the walls with tables...I will have a sewing area and cutting area and painting area for my wood projects...it is going to be so nice...The tables won't match and I really don't mind...I am excited I will have some room to work now...I am thrilled...I do have alot of organizing to do now and I am going to work on it this week...

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I hope ya'll have a wonderful week may it be filled with many blessings...

Busy Saturday

We had a very busy Saturday... I am tired tonight.
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Our neighborhood had a yard sale and we didn't do it this year...first time we have not done that...

We helped Pastor Ben move....met some awesome people today.. Met another Pastor and he was very nice...I got lost driving to the storage shed on the third trip there..You would have thought I would know the way by then...I have No idea how I got where I got...I realized I was on 32st NE with a purple house...Some know who I am talking about...when I saw the purple house a peace came across me...I knew where I was... I really have no clue how I got there...I was not a happy camper tho trying to find my way through winding streets.. Poor Russ had to listen to my profanity as every turn I took I had no clue if I was going north, south, east or west...NO I don't have a GPS....maybe I will think about it now.....then I saw 32st and I had no idea if was going to turn the right way and then I saw the purple house...So thank you for that purple house... :)...It is a really really pretty purple house.
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We got home around 2 pm and ate lunch and then mowed our front yard...I love how our yard looks after mowing and weed whacking....it did wipe us out but it was a good wipe out..
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After resting from mowing I was feeding my birds out front and as I was feeding them some neighbors who use to live down the street from us and has moved to Adkins, Iowa came driving by and it was so good to see them...Miss them..It was great talking with them.
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Friday night Tim and Jessie took us to their lot that they are going to build their home on... They showed us one of the homes that will look like theirs...They were deciding on the color...They are going with a creamy color with burgundy color shutters...and they get to pick the colors of the walls and she wants the color that I painted our living room with...I am shocked because I thought she never liked my style and the more we talk the more my daughter in law has the same taste....I love watching them getting so thrilled..We went to Menards and she picked out several knobs for the kitchen cabs and other cabs through out the house...She is going with brushed nickel...the cabs through out the house will be maple wood stained cherry...I am thrilled for them.
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Picked some strawberries today...my broccoli and kohlirabi is doing great....It was great spending a little time in the garden...
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Well that is it....Tomorrow is my eldest sons birthday and we will be having Mexican food for dinner..

Have a wonderful Sunday...

Friday...

This week flew by so fast....I guess it does when you are busy..

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This Sunday is my eldest Son's birthday...he will be 35 years old...Goodness gracious I can not believe he is that old but yet he is... We are having a Mexican Fiesta Sunday afternoon.. I thought it was going to be a small dinner, just Russ and I and Dan...Well I told Tim and Jessie and Dave and Kim don't forget to wish Dan a Happy Birthday...They asked me what I was fixing him for dinner...In our home I fix whoever's birthday it is, what ever dinner they want...Dan asked for Mexican Fiesta...All of them asked what time...so i will be having everyone here for dinner...I am excited to have the WHOLE family here...So we will be having Mexican and then cake and ice cream...For Dan's birthday since money is in short supply for him I decided to pay his ticket for his birthday...I have been carting him around for a few months because his license is suspended because of not paying for the ticket. "sigh" He said he wanted new things for his crib(slang talk) and I said no you can do that yourself but being his personal drivers is ending and I paid for your ticket....now you can work to get your license back...He did appreciate it... Dan has been a challenge for me and my family...I love him dearly...but.....

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Tomorrow we help move Pastor Ben...Unfortunately he is moving to Nebraska...we are moving his stuff to some one's home and then they will have to leave in a few weeks from there...Pastor Ben is a wonderful Pastor and family man..I learned so much from him when he preached...it is so sad for me and especially for Mary Ellen which is his daughter and my friend...He is retired and they are starting a new chapter in their lives...Mary Ellen is staying here and she is having a hard time...Keep her in your prayers.

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I got rid of our microwave...I know my kids will have a fit... :) but they are so unhealthy for you.. I have not missed it at all...I thought I would..

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The last year I have been trying to simplify my life and get rid of toxins in my life....I am detaching from alot of things in my life...I know some will not understand and I know some will totally understand....I am no longer going on Facebook....I kept close family members on and a few close friends that keep in constant contact with me... I am keeping my blog...I love to blog and keep up with my blogging friends...I am learning so much from you..

Oh the city of Cedar Rapids is considering chickens in back yards BUT they will only allow 50 houses if I read that correct...I wonder if they feel they will have more then they want....I would love to raise chickens but I won't dare...I have no clue how to do that...and with the dogs that I have I wouldn't do that to the chickens....I think it is an awesome idea...I would love to have fresh eggs everyday...I will just have to find a home that will sell organic eggs...

I will also be searching for a farm that raises grass fed cows and buy some meat...My main goal is to prepare...The Proverbs Woman in chapter 31 is all about preparing from food to linens to selling her wares...my main goal is to be like that..

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I am tearing my sewing room apart...I don't have room to spread out my work...I am giving my older son the computer desk...the bed is going to be taken down stairs for Dave to take when he moves into his apartment...He is now in a dorm house with a room that they had the bed and desk and dresser...so all his stuff will be moved out...I will have 4 walls to work with then...the room is not that big...But I want 3 walls with tables...it will be wall to wall work space...it won't be the prettiest right now...but I will have room to lay out everything...It's frustrating right now..I have everything in laundry baskets so I can take the computer desk apart...Russ thinks it is a great idea....eventually he said we will do something nicer....but hey it isn't costing anything right now..

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I think that is enough chatting for right now...

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Have a fantastic weekend....ours will be busy again...at some point we need to plant the grape vine and the other veggies and hope for the best..

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Many Blessings to you..

a few things...

Good morning to you....what a week and I finally feel human...Ha...Don't want to repeat last weekend but for some reason I will be repeating it soon... We will be moving Kim back to the dorms in August..

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We had dinner with Tim and Jessie... I am having a hard time right now with letting my kids pay for things ...Tim and Jessie wanted to take us out to dinner for helping them move back here on Monday...Tim told me to get use to it... "sigh" this is where I have a hard time letting go of controlling things...It's a whole new season for me and it's a whole new season for Tim and Jessie..

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Tim and Jessie were all excited to.....They went and talked with a realtor... Jessie has been searching on line in buying a house...Tim and Jessie fell in love with a brand new home...So they went to look at it and the house they saw on the Internet was sold..They were able to go inside and look at the house....So they talked with the builder...They have an appointment with the builder on Friday also...I have tried to explain to them there are alot of hidden cost...I also told them they need to look at homes all around the city..NOPE they want a brand new home..I told them to go to open houses to get ideas for their home.. They feel they don't have to do that....They are very head strong people and when they get an idea in their heads nothing else matters....I wonder where they get that from??? I am VERY excited for them...The funny thing is the house they were looking at was our house plans..Looks just like our home.. It's only a 2 bedroom with a unfinished basement...Tim can finish the basement.. He is a handyman ... I was telling them they were copy cats!! Tim said he loves our home...Which I never knew that.. I know when Jessie was younger she would tell me flat out that she would never live in a home this small...My home with finished basement is 2000 sq. feet...Big enough for us...So I was cracking up they are getting the same floor model only 70 square feet smaller .. Jessie has matured... I am very happy for them...Tim and Jessie want to start living their lives...They are smart tho...they are buying their home with one salary in mind...So I am happy they are not going to be house poor.. What floored me to is I found out when they have children Jessie wants to be a stay at home mom...She will be good at it to.. So I am thrilled for them for the new season in their life...I just have to get use to the new season..

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I got rid of my microwave....I no longer have one in the kitchen...The one I had is Tim and Jessie's...so I cleaned it out and tucked it away in Tim's old room..I hardly use the one I have...The kids used it more than I did...and since they aren't here anymore I don't need it...I am looking into getting a above range convection oven....I have always wanted a double oven.. I didn't like the double ovens because the lower oven almost rest on the floor...Years ago when we rented in Virginia I had a double oven gas stove/oven....It had one above the stove and one below...It was the best thing..A woman had to have designed it...Have never seen one again...So I thought about getting one for above the range where the vent hood is..which I have discovered that it doesn't vent out side...it vents to no where...I am sorta embarrassed because I have lived here for 13 years and never new that....The only reason why I know that now is Tim and Jessie were showing us theirs at the new apartment building they were living in at college....They learned alot about shoddy workmanship and I know this builder who they are going to go through is going to have his hands full with two engineers looking over his shoulder...there hood vents to no where and I thought I would check ours out...Ha ours vents to no where to!! Oh another thing is Tim and Jessie are Holmes on Holmes favorite fans and they have learned so much from this show...Russ and I are right behind Tim and Jessie with watching Holmes on Holmes...Love that show..

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Well that is about it...It continues to rain here...I am going to plant the tomatoes this weekend...I am going to plant seeds and hope for the best and pray God provides us with a great garden this year..

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The birds are chirping big time and they are yelling at me to feed them... I haven't fed them in about a week...but it is the time of the year they can find food so I don't feel to bad...In the winter I feed them all them time...the babies are chirping big time...Sweet to hear.

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Have a wonderful day...

Burrrrr!!

Good morning....It is rather chilly rainy day.. Tonights dinner will be homemade soup and home made bread...we need some comfort food..

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This weekend was an exhausting weekend....Graduation :) and 2 moves..

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Friday move Kim to her new place....Saturday Graduation for my Son Tim from college.

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Sunday- Mother's day and moving more stuff to Kim's place and putting together a futon....Monday Moved Tim and Jessie..

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I am so glad all the moves are over...Tim will be starting a new season in his life...

My bones ache from the cold damp weather..I said in the back of the 26 foot long moving van...so they didn't have to open and close the door...I was wrapped on a blanket...I can't believe how wrong the weather men were...I saw highs yesterday will be close to 70....how wrong...I wore short sleeve shirt and sandels...Ugh.

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The drive home from Ames was the worst driving I have ever done....And I felt so bad for Tim...Many know where the Casino is halfway between here and Ames....Tim turned into the parking lot at the Casino and I was ready to beam him....It was 8 at night...I was already to tell him we are going on...I was not in the mood to gamble...I was cold.. He calles me on the cell phone because it was pouring and said he needs a 5 minute break....His arms were cramping from holding onto the steering wheel so he wouldn't be blown off the road...What a jerk I was I told myself...So I told him to take as long as he needed and to drink some water...So we sat in the pouring rain for 5 minutes and then he was ready to go on...The winds were so bad coming across 30....He called us when the wind died down for about 5 minutes and asked me to pass him....So he slowed down so I could pass...He said he felt the headlights were on...So I passed and they were on....So he asked for me to stay in front of him so he can follow my tail lights...The lights aren't set right or something is very wrong because he couldn't see the road ....So he followed me all the way home...I have the 26 foot u-haul truck in my driveway...I told him to leave it here instead of going across town...So he did and they will be coming here soon to take it to Jessie's mom place to unload...They will stay there for the summer....Tim and Jessie have been pre approved for a home mortgage...so they will be looking for a home this summer...A new season in their life..

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Tim's graduation was great...The only thing I was disappointed in is that the faculty kept patting themselves on the back and then they rushed through the graduates name so fast....You really had to listen for the name of your child and then with them calling out the names so fast you had to figure out which one was your kid...The kids are paying these professors and faculty so they should stop patting themselves on their backs and slow down so we can see our kids walk not run across the stage like they were doing.. will have some pictures soon....It was a great day tho... Tim has the same degree as his dad ....talk about chip off the old block.....What an awesome thing to see..It was just a fantastic day..

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Today is wash and taking it easy....I need to catch up on my home...

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I am happy that it is raining to water my herbs and what little I have planted.. Hopefully this weekend we can work on the garden at some point..

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Take care and have a wonderful day...May it be filled with many Blessings...

Mom's day...

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL MOM'S!!!!!!! May it be a wonderful day for you..

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It's been a crazy weekend here....Fun but crazy...

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Friday we went to move Kim to her new room by her college so she could continue working at her internship job...I thought we were moving everything to her room....she decided everything was going to come back to our house and she only keep her clothes and some books to read... Dave was driving past where her school was so he dropped in to help...it was truly great timing...He took back a wicker chair and the dorm refrig and the dolly...He left and then we loaded the truck and her car....Took what she wanted to her room...She didn't have alot to take there... This morning we will look for a futon for her..She doesn't want her bed because she wants a futon which she will be taking to her dorm come this fall.. Came home and unloaded everything..

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Yesterday was my Son Timothy's college graduation...What a thrill that was...Tim and Jessie fixed a fantastic lunch to eat...It was great...Then we went for the ceremony and it was a thrill to watch him walk the stage...4 years of hard work to get a BSEE degree in Electrical Engineering...to watch him walk across that stage and knowing he is starting a new season in his life...It was just awesome....Pictures will come soon.

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After today I thought we were going to be done with things...but on Monday, Russ and I are heading back to Tim and Jessie's apartment to help move them.. Everyone bailed on helping them.. I will be amazed to see if they will have everything packed...I didn't see anything packed.. nothing...So we will see how much they get done today... They do have the apartment till July but Tim starts his new job Monday the 17th....So I have a feeling we will get the big stuff done and loaded on Monday in the u-haul and moved back here and then they will be making trips back and forth to get things...I will be amazed if they get everything packed up...Her parents and I were telling them they need to be on the show hoarders. They have stuff at my house and they have stuff at Jessie's father's and step mother's house and they have stuff at her mom's house and then there apartment is full...we were all saying that when they get their own place they WILL be taking their stuff out of our houses...It will make them go through it...or hoard it.

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We had frost this morning...I did cover the plants and I am so glad I did...I wasn't going to because I was so tired from driving yesterday and the graduation, I did cover and am happy that I did...I did pick 4 strawberries...Oh they were so good...I can not believe the difference in taste from store bought...it just confirms again to me that I am on the right path in providing home grown food for us...so worth it..

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Take time to be with your mom today ...I am missing my mom...I know she is with me in spirit...

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Till next time have a wonderful day full of many blessings...

Oh so worth it....

Two Post in one day ....

I had to post tonight because it is so worth growing your own veggies..I know some can not grow their own. but if you have a farmers market or a place you can get fresh veggies and buy some extra and what you do not eat freeze it for later use, it is so worth it...

The last two days I have dug down deep in the chest freezer... I don't know if I did the right thing by getting a chest freezer or not, I am short and to get down to the bottom I have to stand on a small step stool and then I can really get down into the freezer..Last night we had home grown zuchinni sauted with home grown red peppers...Tonight I fixed chili con corn....I put Iowa corn in the chili alot with home grown red and green peppers and onions..I put in frozen diced tomatoes in the chili.. I can not tell you the peace I had knowning where the food came from...

Sometimes after gardening and when I come in and every bone and muscle aches I sometimes wonder if this is all worth it and as I pulled out of the freezer my hard work from last year it confirmed to me that it is well worth the pain of gardening......I have been discouraged by our weather and we are suppose to be cold this weekend with frost..I am thankful it will be cool with all the moving we will be doing with our kids this weekend...

Mole up date....

I am excited to tell you that it is gone....I never got the castor oil down...I have it tho...What I did do is I sprinkled alot of ground pepper all around the mound....I see no evidence of them rebuilding it or any other mounds in my yard.. I will be armed with pepper and will keep the castor oil ready for use....Yippy yahoo for now...I'm waiting for it to come back for revenge...really I hope it went away far away that is....

I didn't get all the spring cleaning done... "sigh"...I did clean the kitchen and dining room and I did wipe down the dining room table with Murphy Oil....the kitchen cabs the same ....Mopped the floors to...which feels so good to get them all cleaned up...I didn't get to the living room like I wanted...that will be tomorrow afternoon...

My daughter called this afternoon and she hasn't begun packing....Studying for finals....So I have a feeling we will be there late getting all the stuff into her bedroom....She is renting a room in a house with a few other girls that have rooms to...she will be coming back with us and will be going to my Son's graduation...Dave will be coming with us to...Sunday we need to go back with Kim and search for a futon for her....On mother's day we will be helping her get situated....which I don't mind...Love my kids...

Till next time....

Wednesday....

Happy Wednesday.....

This will probably be my last post until next week....The next 5 days are going to be very busy....

It will be cool weather to so in a way that is nice...I am so looking forward to seeing all my kids...

Tomorrow Russ has a dentist appointment in the morning.. I have to go with him as he has happy gas because he is such a gagger...

Friday Russ has off and we are moving our daughter into an apartment for the summer...At some point I need to bring food into this house...so I think in the morning on friday, I will do some food shopping for the weekend..And then sometime next week do a bigger food shopping day...Just don't have time to go through coupons...Will buy fresh food for the weekend...

Saturday will be full of activities as my Son is graduating from College.. :)

Sunday is Mother's Day...

Monday Tim who is graduating will be moving back to start reality of life with his wife of almost one year...

Today I am deep spring cleaning the living room, dining room and kitchen...The wood in my home needs some tender loving care from the cold dry winter...I will be using Murphy's oil on all my wood stuff...Dining room table and chairs and hutch and the kitchen cabs....they are all real wood and not the particle board stuff like our entertainment center and computer desk.. The winter with the dry air you can tell all the wood needs some tender loving care....So that will all be done today....Then next thing is taking all the cushions off the couch and vacuuming all inside and vacuuming the cushions and ect....Washing quilts and afghans....Would like to wash all the living room curtains I just don't think I will have time...Will see...I think for mother's day and having things so sweet and clean makes it more special to me...

Have a wonderful day and all mom's out there have a wonderful Mom's day...I do miss my mom....If you mom is still with you make it special, you never know when she won't be there for you...

Many Blessings to you...

Another windy day....

It is another windy day... Last saturday was very windy but I think today surpasses all windy days we have had so far..

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I am so glad I did not put out the tomatoes last Saturday...I did plant my herbs out front in pots.. They are protected from the winds because of our garage... The winds are blowing from the south.

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I have decided to hold off on any more planting till the weekend of the 15th...This weekend we are suppose to get frost... "sigh" ..

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I have been reading up on container gardening and we have plenty of huge pots left and I think I will be filling them with dirt...I am going to do the container planting out front as it isn't as hot as the back yard and the containers won't dry out... I would love to grow beets and carrots but we just don't have the soil in our yard for them...I think growing them in containers will be fun...I thought about putting carrot seeds in with the herbs..I will put 8 seeds each in the herbs containers, I don't want to over crowd my herbs and I want to see how the carrots do... If I put 8 seeds in each container and I have 9 pots that is 72 carrots...I could do the same with beets with the other containers I have.. I am going to try...

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I learned today you can eat the beets leaves and put them in salads or cook them like spinach...I never knew that.. now to convince Russ.. :) He doesn't even like beets.. I love beets..they are so healthy for you..

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I love learning new things.. I am presently reading a book that is helping me with self esteem and I have realized that I let people influence me in the way they feel I should live, not what I really want to do in life...At 52 years old I am finally saying no to things.....Russ has seen the change and I am so much happier...I am finally getting to where I am a small homesteader which I have always wanted to do...I have had people call me dumb because I want to live off my little piece of land God provided for me... I love gardening and homemaking...what a gift I have and I am now utilizing all those gifts..

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My 23 year old Son is graduating from college this Saturday...It really really hit me last night..I am so excited for him...He got married last June and he is graduating and starting a new job a week after he comes back...I am so excited for him...I can't wait to see him walk the stage.. He has worked so very hard to get his degree in engineering...Just like his dad...They are going to be working at the same company but in different plants..

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My 22 year old Son Dave has just started a new job and it is changing his course in life and he is so excited...He is in training up in Minnesota...he has a year of on line courses to do...He is able to work full time and take full time courses..

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My daughter Kim who is 21, will be living this summer up by her college as she has a paid internship...She has one more year of college and then she will be done..She will have a degree in accounting...she is thinking about changing over to financing to..

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I have to acknowledge one person in my blog today...That is Pastor Keith...He was my kids youth pastor... I don't know where my kids would be at this point in life if they had not been in volved with this youth group...He was new to being a Youth Pastor and there were alot of trial and errors but he gave my kids direction in life with their walk with the Lord...Pastor Keith has grown into an awesome Youth Pastor...Of course he had to deal with me alot because I disagreed on things but it was a learning experience and now that he has 3 kids he is also learning to be a great parent as well as his wife Emily...So I thank Pastor Keith in all what he does with the youth at Valley View Baptist.

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Till next time....May your life be filled with many Blessings...

work in progress

Hope you had a wonderful weekend, Our weekend was beautiful...the weather was fantastic...Saturday was very windy ..

We mowed the front yard and put out some spring decos...I filled 9 pots full of soil and will be planting my herbs in them.. The herbs will be lining the front walkway coming up to the front door...I was going to have a herb garden but that won't happen till later this year..We will be getting it ready for next year....

Sunday morning we mowed the back yard and weed whacked....Russ was working on the pavers in the garden.. I went to the other side of the house and trimmed bushes...I filled our yardy and by trimming these bushes it opened up the side yard so much.. Guess what?? my wheels in my head were turning once again with ideas...Russ put a stop to it...poor guy. I was lining up more projects to do and he put a stop to it because we have a dozen projects ahead of the ones I was planning...

Well I took some pictures....




Holly...I was outside and she doesn't like it when I am out side...She is my protector....

Here is my Holly once again...She is such a loyal dog to me...

Work in progress....

This is the lower part of the garden...Russ has a little more to go...He said if he worked in the evenings he will have it done...The we will fill with top soil and then planting...Hopefully on Mothers Day I can plant...

Sorry for the blurry picture...

Upper part...With the rain we had it sunk some of the bricks....I am not about to lift these things again....they are staying the way they are...

Another picture of the walk way...The hardest thing is going to be what I am going to plant where.. The green bush in the lower right hand corner is a blueberry bush...

I realized I left out the picture on the side of the house where we plant our tomatoes...Next time...

I enjoyed the weekend so much....Saturday night we watched movies and I am not a movie watcher.. but I am beginning to like watching Netflix movies on Ruko....We watched Safe Harbor. Saturday night...I loved it...

Tomorrow is busy catching up on my home as I let it go this weekend since we worked on the yard...finally feel like we are catching up with everything...

Till next time...