What I want to be when I grow up

After driving with my daughter this morning and screaming (twice) at the top of my lungs when she hit the gas instead of the break, I decided to make a list of what I wanted to be when I grow up:

1) patient. I won't be teaching my grand children to drive. That's what parents are for.

2) tranquil. Not sure how I'm going to pull this off. I hear they have meds for this.

3) godly. No medicine for this one. I'm going to have to get this the hard way.. by earning it.

4) non-impulsive. I can't remember what the opposite of impulsive is, but I'm going to do it. at least once.

5) carefree. Someday I'm going to let someone else be in charge of the world. Apparently, today, I need to do it.

and

6) organized. You knew I was going to say that, didn't you? Except, it won't be so much work when I'm not in charge of the world.

Airshow everyday

The thunderbirds were practicing for the Airshow this weekend. We live close enough to the airport to get a view of their tail loops as they came around from tricks.

Me: "Oh, it's too bad! We're going to miss the Airshow this year"

Emily: "We have an air show every day, Mommy"

Me: "We do?"

Emily: "Yes, the birds are out everyday, and they make an airshow"

So simple. so true.

-----------------------------------

While getting her dressed, I noticed Emily's pants were getting short.

"Have you noticed that your pants are getting shorter?"

"Yes. I think I grew last night."

Yes. Last night. It must have been the spinach.

---------------------------------------

A conversation with a friend last night.

"I have a new favorite preacher"

'Oh, yeah? Who?"

"Paul Washer"

"What? Say that again. You sound like a such a mid-westerner"

"Warsher"

"See? Warsher"

"I am not saying Warsher. Wooooooooooosher. I can do this. Waaaaawwwwwwwsher..

Seriously. I can't win.

"So, do you put your things in the dishwarsher also?"

"No. I do not use a dish-warsher."

O.K. So, it's that Paul guy who is my new fav. preacher. Not wArshEr.

I'm trapped in this funny way of taaaaaaaaaaalllllllking.

Stay-cation

Thanks to everyone for your encouraging words about the LAUNDRY TALKs. Some of my Facebook friends are having a fun time extrapolating the ideas like sending prayer requests on recycled dryer sheets. And calling me a "laundry missionary".. even so, I appreciate the feedback.

I really appreciate your ideas on topics to cover also. It's hard to fill a bunch of sessions talking about dryer lint, which is probably what I would resort to if I ran out of ministry related ideas.

So, thanks for sparing my readers from arduous viewing sessions.

Speaking of arduous, it's time to take a break from work. Not me, though. I only get a break from work when I'm sleeping, and that is questionable. Sometimes, I wake up exhausted because I've been "running" in my dream..

So, who is getting a break from work? My dear husband, Will. His company has a planned two week break starting next week. I think you remember how I was agonizing on what is the best way to spend this time? Was it: the Grand Canyon? a trip to South Dakota?? or North Dakota? or what?

It looks like "or what?" got the billet this time. Before I tell you all about what we are doing, let me say what we will do first. First, we are going to Minnesota to visit the Webber grandparents at their cottage on the Lake. I am a huge fan of Minnesota cottages and lakes. The sunsets, the warm days and cool evenings. I love it all. I like cottage food. and cottage desserts. What can I say? I love my mother in law's cooking. No one does it quite like she does.

And our original plan was to launch right from Minnesota and continue to head west. Except we aren't. Have you ever felt obligated to do something but lacked the energy to carry it through because it was clear that the Lord wasn't in it? That's sort of the way this has panned out. Other than lacking the necessary funds to travel, there wasn't a God-given drive to go anywhere. (which is unusual for me.. Germany anyone? )

So, we are planning a stay-cation-- a vacation where you stay at home and do all the cool things in your own little area. We are planning fun meals, fun activities, ministry related things and all the things that we are hoping will bond our family together. After all those rocks will still be there next year, if we choose to travel next year. And maybe then we'll have some funding for travel. Or not. And that is fine also. Lack of funds is a nice way of God hemming us in, to assure us we are in his will. And there's a certain security in that, you know?

So, I am really looking forward to our time at the lake in Minnesota. And while I was telling my pilates students that I would be gone for the week and they would have a sub next week, one of regulars said,

"Oh! I just love it when you go to Minnesota and come back. You always talk so funny. I love that Minnesota accent"

(I think what she meant was Yooper accent, which is just like a Minnesota accent)

to which I replied:

"Whaaaaat do Ya Meeean? dat I tok like a Minnie soattan?"

I'm back!!

It's been less than a week, and the Lord has given a lot of direction for this blog. I thank you for praying! As with any adventure in this life, we need to step back from time to time.

Have I lost focus of this?

My husband and children are my first ministry. Even though he once looked like this, and now he looks like

this. A tall, confident young man. He's all ready to face the world.

It's just at times like this--when you have a child ready to leave home that you seriously question everything you've ever done for the past 18 years. Have I invested my time in what REALLY matters? Have I spent too much time on the necessary and neglected the important?

And does what I do with my hands, and say with my mouth, reflect what is really important.. for eternity?

And so I took a long look at this blog also. If you want to remember me as just a hedgehog who writes funny stories, that is fine with me. But if you would like to see my spiritual side, I am creating a series called: the Laundry Talks.

I am going to attempt to share my heart with you in my Laundry Talks. I would appreciate your feedback, since I'm new to this.

You never know what the Lord will use, and perhaps you have a question or topic that you would like discussed in these "Laundry Talks". I appreciate your prayers for these also.

More stuff

It's hard to recognize a good deal unless you know what is good. Do you see the skillet? It's a West Bend liquid core electric skillet. I think it is over $200.00 retail. On ebay, right now, it is running $129.00.

And I just picked one up at a garage sale for $3.00. Just another plug in skillet, right? Yes and no. Yes, it is an MLM product, a good one, as far as I can tell. And it is a very pricey one at that.

It reminds me of something. So many people of this life are passing by all the good deals of this life in exchange for the drivel at high prices. And I'm not talking about cookery, clothing, and an outdoor campfire device. I'm talking about appreciation of the Lord Jesus and all the fullness of the deity dwelling bodily.

How often do we forget what to buy because we never were trained to look for it in the first place? We had no idea it was of a high value, until it was too late.

I am officially in what people would term as "middle life". Statistically, people live beyond my age just as long as they have lived. Now, if I die tomorrow, that will throw things off a tad, for me. But no one can take away the fact that I've arrived this far. And I'm here to say that I'd like to draw a line in the sand.

That side over there is where I came from, and this side over here is where I am going.

The side that I came from is quick to forget eternity, the Lord, my focus and my real meaning in this life. It wants to be appreciated for something as lame as having an organized home, finding a bargain, cooking a good meal or telling a funny story.

The side where I am going?

I would like to make an effort, starting today, to let those who are experts in drivel, deal with it. And I, I would like to be on the other side of the line and stop the madness of being in expert in nothing in particular for no other reason than to say that I was.

And I'm not even sure how I am going to get there. But I'm not staying here.

Here is where I was, not where I am going.

Yes, having an organized home, a good meal and a funny story are the things that make this life more palatable. They lull us into a full tummy happiness, filled with the aroma of baked apple pie and the sounds of crackling fire.

But what do they do for us, eternally?

If I can organize shoes for Jesus, I will do it. If I can give out a recipe for the glory of God, fine. But if this is one big pathetic display of my narcisistic egrandisement, I think it needs to stop.

At the end of my days, will my Lord say, "I see that you have had your reward in full.

So, you have no need for my approval. Your blog is your idol, isn't it?"

And so with that happy thought, I am taking a break to pray. I will either find a way to use this for God's glory, or I will be done.

In one week, I will be back, and I will tell you what the Lord has been telling me.

I will return with either 1) a blog with a fresh focus on the Lord Jesus, that gives him the glory or 2) an interesting set of archives and some wonderful friends.

But no more idols.

Garden progress..

garden progress so far...

Happenings...

Just in case you didn't believe me about making all of my kids wear "Gwinn Centennial T-shirts"--here they are. And as you can see, Hudson is thrilled about it. Now he is acting like Edmund, not just looking like him..

And this is a small follow-on to the Yooper comments made earlier. This is an actual photograph that my mother took while touring part of the western U.P.
So, let's get this straight. You are out walking with your dog and you happen to notice flower boxes that are about 18 inches off the ground. Now would be a good time to ask your dog to hoist his bottom up to the trough and do his business on the flower boxes? And just so you are perfectly clear, we do not allow "poop" or "pee" as it were to enter these boxes. So, if you didn't list both, one or the other could possibly be acceptable, but now there is NO question whatsoever.

Which is the very typical U.P. way. We do not sacrifice clarity for any amount of social graces.

Just so know. That is WHERE I get it. LOL.

But now, I'll have to be blunt again, and say: My mother is the most awesomest art quilter in the world because she made this:

It's going in some huge contest, and wouldn't it be cool if she won?

Speaking of Mom, she's been here all week, so that is how I snarfed these photos off her camera. This is my Mom and Dad with Jamie at his grad party. Isn't it great that both Mom and Dad are in good health? Thank you, Lord!
And Mom's cousin, Barb met us for lunch at Chevy's Mexican Restaurant in Schaumburg.

We were celebrating her 65th birthday, coming up soon! Happy Birthday, Barb!

I think Barb looks better in the sobrero than I do, but it was fun wearing it.

After we left the restaurant, we went thrifting with Barb. I found a few good deals, which I'll have to post about later. But we made one last stop before the car hit I-90 West. Can you guess??

Yes! The Container Store! The organizing mommy's dream store!
They were having a sale on glasslock containers for packing lunches. All in all, a fun time out!

My famous?? son, Hudson

You know how I am from the U.P. right? O.K., let's review here. The upper part of Michigan is often referred to as the "Upper Peninsula" or U.P., for short. There's sort of a cult-like following of "yoopers" of all who have lived there and who currently live there, and perhaps some who just want to live there.

And it's the widest based "good 'ole boy" club you'll ever find. No color, race, religion, or any other requirements are needed except being a "yooper". It's like an instant "in" or "out" with whomever you are with. I rarely play the yooper card. People around here either don't like it or don't get it. Think hill-billies of the north.

So, what does this have to do with my son? Well, you know how my kids are doing this farm life thing of corn de-tassling this summer. I think they just completed day 8. And tomorrow they are back in the trenches again. So, last week on Friday, Hudson was wearing a distinctly yooper T-shirt. "GWINN Centennial 100th year anniversary" that I forced my kids to wear for a dorky picture in my parents' back yard.

And this is a true story about the T-shirt. Every year I try to get my kids a T-shirt from someplace "exotic". For example: Thailand, Montreal, Berlin, etc. And they cruise around wearing these cool T-shirts for a while. Well, one year, I either didn't travel anywhere or couldn't find a T-shirt, so I chose the Gwinn Centennial for this year's T-shirt. Lame, I admit. What's a mom to do? Gwinn has the population of 2,000 on a good year, and that is my blessed little home town. I could (and probably should) write an entire blog of Gwinn memories, but that is for a different time of my life.

So, Hudson... remember.. we're talking about Hud in the corn field. So, Hudson is wearing his Gwinn Centennial T-shirt. The main boss of "Team Corn", Tim calls Hudson over,

"James Webber, Come here" Hudson goes, since he knows that he gets he and Jamie mixed up.

And Hud is standing there with Tim and this other fella,

"You know that you look like Edmund from Narnia?"

(Hud is like.. you called me over for this?)

And then he says, "Where did you get the T-shirt?"

Hud told him about his mother being from Gwinn. And they had to know my maiden name and all that,

And this guy says, "I know your Mom, I knew her real good."

(They even talk like Yoopers, too!)

Sure enough, Peter Bruce is a fella that I went to school with. Somehow his kids are helping with Team Corn and he is related to the boss, Tim.

Soon enough, Peter's wife is taking pictures of Hud with their kids.

I'm not sure if it was because Hud looks like Edmund from Narnia or that he's part-Yooper.

When he got on the bus after the day, his friends were asking him,

"Are you famous or something? Why are those people taking pictures of you?"

He probably just gave them his sheepish grin.

So, it's all in a day's work, being famous, that is.

And they don't even know how well he plays the cello!

He plays it good. You betcha!

More finds and more memories..

First of all, I should have known when the sign said, "GUY SALE" on the side of the road. Still, I pulled in anyway. Mom, Emily and I were out garage sale-ing, when we passed the sign.

"Hey, Dad's birthday is coming up. Should we go look?"

Why buy Dad anything new anyway? New is over-rated.

Mom and were the only women there. Every tool my mother picked up, she asked, "Now, what do you call this?" and "What does this do?" "And why are you selling this stuff?"

C'mon lady.. we just want to get rid of it...

"Oh, it's my 90 year old father in law. He's blind now, so he can't make things anymore"

Us:"Oh, what is his name? How is he doing? Where does he live?"

Him: "He lives right here. He's inside. His name is Ken.."

Us: "We want to meet him. Bring him out."

So, blind little Ken comes out. He was adorable. He needed love. He didn't look like a dirty old man.

He talked about every tool, every project, everything he did. It was fun. We bought $10.00 worth of tools, a box, some leather and some tie-down straps. He brought us into the house and showed us his knick-knack shelves he made. (Guys of that era had to build a lot of knick-knack shelves..) The half gallon of vodka on the counter belonged to his son, but it wouldn't have surprised me if he dipped into it after this visit.. LOL.

Our next sale I was able to find this!

Well, it didn't have lit charcoal in it when I picked it up. It was just sitting alone on someone's yard, looking like it needed a new home. So, for $20.00, it found its way into the back of my mini van. I did a quick ebay search and found one exactly like it for $125.00, used. I have no idea what they cost new.

It's called a "chiminea" and is supposed to be an outdoor fireplace. Even though it has a crack in it at the bottom, it worked just fine for us. I will probably buy a sealant for it. But the little stand that it sits on is pretty sturdy. So, on the way home with the chiminea in the back of the car, I stopped by Woodmans and bought hotdogs, buns, charcoal, lighter fluid, marshmallows, and everything for a cookout.

Somehow, the hotdogs did not get much photography, but these did.

And the kids seemed to get the hang of it quite nicely.

Mom liked it too!

When we were done with the marshmallows, I tried cooking a chicken in a cast iron pot! Fun!

Call me an "adobe woman" OK?

Happiest days of my life..

I held up a picture from the piles of pictures that I was sorting. I looked at it and just stopped the moment and stared.

There they were--my oldest four children sitting at the table. The table was covered with a plastic table cloth, and each of them had an art project in front of them. Jamie was 9 years old. His cheeks were chubbed out, and he had a paintbrush in hand. He was no doubt making a tank or an "F-22 Raptor", which was his favorite that year. Joanna was seven, already a big girl and in charge of the world. She had her art apron on, she was painting a ballerina or a pot of flowers. Nathanael was grinning ear to ear, as he always did at age four. He had a little paint brush in hand, and was being his very precise little self. And Hudson, age 5, had both hands immersed into the finger paint with a devilish grin on his face.

I just stared at the photo and cried. I probably never was able to stop long enough during those days to even contemplate what was going on. No blog, no journal, nothing really. Just a few photos. I no sooner finished cooking a meal and the dishes needed to be done. I did all the laundry in those days. and the cleaning. and the teaching.

And yet I was happy. extremely happy.

Not that I'm not happy now, but it is a different happy. Back then, it was a "isn't this nice that all of my chicks are in the nest, and I can manage them so well" kind of happy. It was a "the last child is weaned, and we can do fun stuff with ALL the kids now" kind of happy.

And we did a lot of stuff, and school, and fun. We did crafts, built gingerbread houses, sewed, made costumes, made fun foods, went places, and laughed. I distinctly remember not letting school get in the way of my fun. And now, nine years later, I have no regrets about the way we spent our time.

Yes, we DID school. But school was FUN. I LOVED teaching my kids school in those days. We wrote stories, and did nature hikes, and captured images in our memories.

Oh, just for a minute.. just for a day.. can I say: I miss it?

My nine year old is going to college in a month, except he is 18.

My four year old is earning money and studying for his ham radio license, except he is almost 13.

My seven year old just finished driver's ed, and has a professional camera, except she is 16.

And my six year old finger painter is 6 feet tall and painting his own room all by himself, except he is 14.

And I am still 32 and a mother of "little ones"? except my little ones are all taller than 5'4" ?

And we have Emily.. She is my little one now, and she is smaller than 5'4''.

And I need to make memories with her before she grows up too fast. Thank you Lord for giving me another little one to make gingerbread houses with and nature hikes to go on. Thank you for the fun and joy of discovering and early learning. Soon enough, you too will have to go on and be a big kid and do hard school.

But we have today.. Let's go make a fort today, OK? Yes, let's continue the happiest days of my life..

Recipe for Blueberry "Buffalo" Remake

This recipe bears repeating. I posted this almost exactly two years ago, and it's time to remind my new readers about this great recipe. Hope you are enjoying your blueberries!!

I made this recently and realized it needed some tweaking. If you've made this before and noticed it was a little too dry, I am changing it a little. Hope you like the remix.

For the recipe:

In a bowl mix the batter:

2 cups brown sugar

1 c. oil

4 eggs

2 t. vanilla

2 cups milk

Mix thoroughly. You probably don't want to use a mixer for this recipe--just mix with a spoon.

In a different bowl:

6 cups wheat flour or a combination of wheat and white flour

4 t. baking powder

1 t. salt

Combine ingredients

(This makes a thick batter)

Fold in: 6 cups of blueberries.

Spray the large roaster pan, and distribute the thick mass into it. (The picture shows a 9 x 13. I have been making it in my large roaster lately)

Next, we make a crumble to go on top. You can vary the ingredients for the crumble or eliminate this altogether for a healthier version. I also will use pecans occasionally.

Crumble:

1 cup white sugar

1 stick melted butter

2 cups chopped walnuts

2 t. cinnamon

Combine the crumble ingredients and distribute evenly across the top.

Baking: 350 degrees for about 1 hour.

About the name/origin of the recipe: "Blueberry Buckle" was the original name for this. It was from one of my mom's friends in the U.P. of Michigan. As kids we loved this! At the time, there was a joke about "buffalos" circulating around our family, so we dutifully perseverated on the "buffalo" theme enough to crown a recipe with its name. It has been "blueberry buffalo" ever since..

picture August 2008/ Hudson and Emily

Makes you appreciate higher education...

So, my four oldest kids are hard-workin' farm kids this week. Sure 'nuf.

They leave the house at 4:30 a.m. and arrive at the pickup station at 5:00 to catch the bus. The bus takes them to the fields and they work in the heat, rain, mud and bugs all day de-tassling corn.

As we sat at the table with a hearty meal of meat and potatoes, I asked,

"Did you feel like slaves out there?"

Jo: "For a few minutes I did, actually"

Me: "Did you start singing any old slave songs?"

Kids: "No!!"

Jo: "And you should see the other kids on the bus. They come to work in their pajamas"

Than: "or wear garbage bags"

Me: "pajamas and garbage bags.. how glamorous! What do they sleep in at night?"

Hud: "their jeans, of course.."

Jamie:" I guess I'm not a farm person, because I do NOT get the attraction. If I look back, I can see the bus. It looks about this big.. (puts his fingers together to about an inch) and if I look forward,all I see is corn going on forever.. I just don't get why people love the prairie.."

He continues, "And when I told Andy what we were doing this week, he said..

I hear that really makes you want to get a higher education!

Will and I just winked at each other and said, "yeah.. this IS good for them.. really good!"

Every kid should do at least one week of corn de-tassling when deciding whether or not to pursue a higher education. Who needs study skills after this experience? They can get their own butts motivated after this!

Yee-haw. And I love being a farming mama. I sit around in my empty house all day while my little one sleeps all morning because she thinks she needs to get up and see them off each morning. And then she takes a little nap by 6 or 7 and doesn't get up until after 10.

In the meantime, I feel like the school bus came and trotted everyone off. I make my coffee, have my Bible reading time.. blog a little.. etc. Oh, life is good, good indeed.

wrapped up with the organizing mommy's clothing..

Before the Tim Hawkin's concert, we joined some of our friends at a Mexican restaurant. While we were enjoying our tacos, enchiladas, and chimichangas, the topic of cars came up.

Ken, the dad of the other family, has a thing for cars. I always knew that he must like cars since he drives a sort of fancy sports car (you can see how brand names and all that impress me so much that I remember them..). Thankfully, they only have two children or else they could not all crowd everyone into a sports car, they might actually have to resort to a minivan..

A minivan?? the horror! His advice to his son was to make sure he got a nice car before he graduated from college and got married OR ELSE he'd have to have a ... minivan! (And that was really going to be a problem for him?) How could he ever face himself in the mirror, knowing that his son had condescended to a mini-van?

Now, I'm glad people open up to us and tell us how they really feel about things, without fear of .. you know.. sounding snobby and all. It makes me feel special. Just because the nicest car we own is a mini-van. The donated car runs and all and that is special. And the 15 passenger runs also, and that is also special. But the minivan is our nicest car! And so, you guys know me..

I really can not let a subject drop. And I know these guys. They are fine with this. They are fine with reading this too, and if they aren't? well, bop me already.

"So, it really seems like a large part of who you are in wrapped up in the type of car you own.."

(yes, I really said that to the dad)

My husband sipping his coke, turning his head the other way, talking Spanish to no one in particular..

"It was born and bred into me. My father worked for GM.." (many strange excuses came forth)

"Hey, I wasn't trying to make a diagnosis here. I am just making an observation. It's neither good nor bad.."

But it was too late. A large part of him was getting defensive. But this guy and I go around and around on stuff. And like.. I really do not mind confrontation.

So, then the car subject drove away, and we started discussing clothing. And I told his wife (one of my good buddies who doesn't get her self esteem from her car) that I really liked her outfit--especially her shirt. She told me it was second hand. I was shocked. Gorgeous. And then I had to confess that everything I had on was thrifted, right down to the shoes. And I held up my foot to the table.

(Same Spanish conversation going on with no one in particular when my foot went up..)

And touche' the next comment heard was,

"It seems like you are a little wrapped up in this thrift store clothing shopping"

To which I could only laugh uproariously. I knew I'd been beat at my own game.

So, yeah. I'm wrapped up in it. (literally and figuratively)

And we had a great time all around. Wish you all could have been there. Think I better go wrap myself up in some thrifted sheets and blankets now..

Moms the word: Make my home sing Monday.

Balancing garage sales and uncluttered living..

As you guys know, garage sale season is well upon us. For us, it starts in May and goes until September. And I think the world knows.. that I love garage sales!!

In fact, I have this inborn sensor that goes off as soon as a sign appears. Long before anyone else sees the sign, I have this "beep beep beep" going off. It's so good that my Dad has threatened to take me hunting and see if my sensor works with the deer... No Daddy-o, my hunting is south of that bridge (the Mackinaw bridge)...

Yesterday, I had to go out of the house and had a break between appointments. No problem! I'll just garage-sale my way from one location to the next. After about the fourth time out of the car, Emily (our five-year-old) was getting weary of buckling and un-buckling herself and wandering around the seemingly endless tables of stuff. Even though she loves a good sale, it's hard on her. I can only imagine what it must be like for those who are carting around 2, 3, 4, or more to these things.

Finally, I conceded. I'm an obsessed nut. I have been dragging my kids to these things for almost two decades now (oldest is 18).. Speaking of oldest, he refuses to go to garage sales anymore. I think he has sufficiently attended a "life's worth" of them.

And now I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to "sneak" the fabulous extra long sheets for his dorm room that I found for only $5.00 into his repertoire of stuff without him knowing I got them at a garage sale. I think if I find a hunk of cardboard and stretch them over it--just like they do at Kohl's, he may not notice...

Anyway, I digress.. How do you control yourself at the garage sales in order to not have a completely cluttered up house at the end of the summer?

Easy.

Loose grip.

Because I can find almost anything at a garage sale for almost any price, I don't stress out about getting rid of it. In fact, I am a freecycle queen. I love to give stuff away.

Yesterday, I listed two items on my local Rockford freecycle. They were both gone within hours. I've never actually been fast enough on the draw to get things through freecycle, but that doesn't bother me. I do well enough at my garage-sales that I don't mind paying for things. But the people who come are so friendly and appreciative for whatever they get.

Also, I just buy things that I can see someone in my family using right away, with the exception of things like: construction materials, and stuff like that.

For clothing, I buy for the current season or one season ahead for the kids. I do not buy for 10 years down the road. For myself, it has to fit "right now" and not when I loose 10 pounds.

I don't have a problem buying sweaters in the middle of summer as long as they will fit next winter. For school supplies, I buy what they need for the next year.

Emily is starting kindergarten this fall. I bought "sight words" flashcards, phonics materials, and a Kindergarten workbook. I resisted buying the fourth grade workbook--let someone else get that one. So far, I've spent $2.25 for kindergarten.

I bought a very cool great big orange hat for $2.00 yesterday. Perfect for the cruise we're going on in November. I'm going to find a flirty floral dress to wear with it. (pictures...? let me think about that)

So, the point I'm making is: just buy what you need/ want right now--even if it's cheap! That will keep your home uncluttered.

Go through stuff every so often and get rid of what you aren't using. Have a space for sentimental things, and try to keep that pared down also. Sentimental things are in a different category than useful things. Nobody uses sentimental things, but try not to be sentimental about everything.. (different post--later on?)

And don't be afraid that you'll offend people by "buying nothing" from them. I struggle with this. I genuinely feel bad that these folks are sitting out in the heat all day and selling their things for almost nothing and I can't even find ONE thing to buy from them?? Sometimes I give in.. Or I just buy a bottle of water or a rice-krispie treat from one of the kids.. The kids are thrilled, and you get a little snack along the way.

And if you've taken the time to buy it, you also need to take the time to put it away when you get home.. Assimilate these things into your life as soon as possible, or they will just seem like junk. Put all of the clothing into the very next load. Put the books on the shelf. Wash the kitchen items and find a home for them, etc. Don't let the bags sit there in the middle of the livingroom floor!

And that will keep your home uncluttered with all of your good finds!!

Note #5

For your time, that is..

A few good reasons to get organized this summer

GET ORGANIZED

1. G: Going places.. It's so hard to get out of the door with the impossible search for keys, water bottles, a purse, diaper bag, snacks, extra clothes and coloring books. There's no getting around the fact that you'll need to round up the stuff, but having to search for things is a real pain.

2.E: Energy.. It's takes so much energy being disorganized. It's like, you look at all the clutter and think, "Why did I get up this morning?" It zaps all the life out of us.

3. T: Time..Yes, it takes time to organize. It takes even more time to look for stuff. Either way, there's time spent. What's more fun for you? Being empowered by choosing locations for things or going on yet another "hunt"???

4. O: Order.. Not that we can control much in this life, but what we can control, let's be all in charge of it. Even if it's dryer lint. At least you are in charge of it, and it is not in charge of you. We can order our lives more than we realize. I don't think God ordains us to be control freaks, but a good balance of accepting what comes and in charge of what is our due.

5. R: Realistic.. All of those organizing books can get our brains goofy, if we read too many of them. What is order for you? and your life? It may not look like someone else's, but it doesn't have to. Some people function well with a lot of stuff. Others need to have less just in order to function. If you have a lot going on, you probably have a lot of stuff. So, I hope that if you have a lot of stuff, you like to organize a lot of stuff.

6. G: Game.. If you have children, you need to make a game of getting and staying organized. Having a place for everything is actually fun. It gives children a sense of accomplishment and pride because the task is doable.

7. A: Awesome: Your home is awesome just because it is yours. Treat it like you love it and it is God's gift. He'll help you get going with it.

8. N: Nonsense: Eliminate the nonsense in your life, and the items that go with it, and it will feel much less cluttered.

9. I: Intuition: Trust your intuition on this. Don't just start tossing everything out the window. There's plenty of room for getting rid of things later. Keep some things that are special to you.

10. Z: Zeal: Embrace the zeal and good feelings that come with organizing.

11. E: Entertaining: and hospitality are one of the main reasons why I had to get organized. I love having people over, and it is very tough when you are drowning in stuff.

12. D: Delight in your happy home! The kids, husband seem so much happier when mama is happy.

in which I confirm my self-righteous pug status

I glanced back to the cart behind me.

Oh twinkies--do they still make those things?

And hostess ding dongs.. oatmeal creme pies.. I remember those weren't so bad.

Oh, and Imperial margarine.. yes, margarine. I didn't think people ate that stuff anymore either

And then I made a mental game of it. Is there possibly anything in this cart that I would actually eat?

Ramen noodles? probably not

Fruity pebbles? nah

boxed mashed potatoes? strange

brown gravy mix? probably has MSG and other weird stuff

canned veggies? on occasion, when nothing fresh looks good, but definitely not at this time of the year.

And the cart was bursting to overflowing with these non-food foods. And so was its driver.

The under-nourished of this age are not small, or lacking food. They are lacking in food--real food. How much non-food can a person consume anyway? And when people are poor and they need government assistance (often for good reasons) and they get help to buy food, do they really get food?

Not that I'm an expert in this. Although, sometimes I think I must be. Even though I love the taco bell drive-thru. We don't live there, you know. It's too expensive and gross.

What we had for dinner tonight: Black beans (cooked from dried in the pressure cooker) and brown rice. Topped with homemade salsa of free veggies that I got from a friend. The salsa had 100% raw veggies, and it was quite yummy. Top the pile of beans with cheese/ sour cream/ tortilla chips or just eat with a tortilla.

Nothing special, since it was what we had Monday night also. And I do not consider this radical eating. We aren't health fanatics. Or maybe I've just gotten used to it, and it doesn't seem very special to me.

But I can tell you that if I were forced to eat the food in the cart behind me, it would be very "unspecial" indeed.

And then I feel that even mentioning all this makes me look and feel a little self righteous and pug-ish. For which I apologize--especially if you are sitting there right now, wolfing down a twinkie. Just enjoy it in peace, baby. Just go right ahead. No guilt. Wash it down with a Dr. Pepper and call it a day.

yeah.. then again, most of my readers are herbal-cult leaders, so they will not be sitting there with a twinkie. They probably are finishing off the last of their tabouleh with some sparkling, organic lemon water.. yeah. me too.

I have been blitzing..

Just so know that just because I have been

--sleeping in until 10:00, or 11:00!!!

--rolling around here like a bowling ball without an alley

--enjoying the "moment" of the summer (i.e. doing nothing)

THAT there HAS BEEN some blitzing going on here.

It started last Tuesday. I sent the four older kids off to Magic Waters for $10.00 Tuesday. Emily and I rattled around here in the empty cave. Ooooooohhhhhh did it feel good. We started with the hall closet which lead to her toy dresser... which sort of morphed into cleaning and organizing her clothes. And we did some schoolish stuff in between the fun.

So, when we aren't doing school, we've been blitzing. On the holiday weekend, I managed to clean the laundry room, the hall closet, the fridge, the freezer and the pantry and the craft room.

Yikes.. when I say it like that, it makes it look like I haven't been lazy. But truly, I feel like a lazy blob.

And the reason I feel lazy is because the ominous task of (once again) cleaning that receptacle of junk, i.e. "the dungeon" is before me. It is a dragon. The dragon wants to slay me. But, NO! I will wield my sword of hard work, perseverance and blitzing and conquer the beast.

I know I can.. I will.. (she says with sword over head, racing fast toward to ominous beast with fire in her eye...)

I'm gonna join that cult.

Don't you love my titles? They are the "What??? is she gonna do now?" kind of titles.

So, what cult is this? Well, I'm not sure it has a name. I just discovered it, and there are various degrees of cult-dom and knowledge-dom to be explored.

It all started when a group of orchestra moms were sitting around hen clucking, when one mom pulls out a strange object from her bag. The sight of it made everyone twitter their feathers with delight. It was a book--no ordinary book-- a special book. It said, "Be your own Doctor" on the front with a grand picture on the back with a huge family on the back. Sure enough, a mother of a large family is unwrapping the secrets of using herbs to treat her family's ailments--one sinus infection at a time.

The herbalist lady is from Monroe, Wisconsin and gave a lecture and sold her book during the lecture. And, my skeptical cynicism (no doubt) started offending some when I started calling it a cult. My husband informed me that I should not have done that because people are sensitive, you know. But what can I say? When I'm new to an idea, I make fun of it for a while, looking at it from all extremes until I can no longer fight it, and then I jump in with both barrels blazing. That's how it was with knitting.

I used to sit back, making fun of knitting, hoping that it was just for little old people who had nothing better to do with their time. Until I tried it. And shortly thereafter became a fanatic.

So, that is why I'm holding out on this herbal remedy thing. It has nothing to do with whether or not this stuff works or not--everyone agrees that it works. What they disagree on is the degree to which it works, and the dosage, the regulatory nonsense, and the "when to go to the doctor" factor.

And "eewwwwwuuu" factor is very real. The idea of putting breast milk in someone's eyes to cure the pink eye. O.K. fine if it's your kid, but to hunt down someone else's milk for the purposes.....??? And the chewing up of common yard weeds ("plantain") to apply on a burn or a bug bite? I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the last two.

No sooner had the hens gathered around the books, and my daughter, Joanna, got a horrific sting right on her lip. We had several unlicensed practioners ready to "practice". With a vial of lavender oil in hand, applying it directly to her lip, the sting was gone almost immediately. The swelling was still there. I was impressed. And even though she had a dose of benadryl afterward, we had a great opportunity to see this stuff working in action.

So, I apologize for calling it a cult. It could become a cult--let's say if it becomes a spiritual thing to treat with herbs instead of doctors. But now, I think it is a very nice resource to have and know about. What about you guys? What is your herbal knowledge and practice? Where do you guys fall on the herbal to traditional medicine ratio?

And if any of my friends who are herbal cult leaders can forgive me for calling them herbal cult leaders, I'd be so thankful...

Post alert: 8th grade boys only

You know that sidebar that says "208" readers, it should be down to be about 8 by the end of the weekend. Not that I'm trying to kill you guys off, but my 8th grader has come out, and I can't hold this back. Blame it on my brother, my brother in law and my Grandpa Burt about why this stuff is (still) hilarious. And if you are familiar with the original, they sound very convincing.

And we are going to see this guy (Tim Hawkins) in concert July 11th in Rockford.. at First Free, I think. One of the bigger churches in Rockford is hosting a concert.

I think the big guy with the big hair IS my favorite.

Well, happy 4th of July weekend. I may post something serious or patriotic by the end of the weekend--not sure yet.

So, yes, I am feeling better

Whew! yes, it's been 4-5 days in a row where I've been feeling better. I'm always cautiously optimistic about announcing a healthy status because it seems like it is such a fleeting thing--health, that is.

Healthy. Are there objective criterion for health? Oh yeah, I know about BMI, and the presidential standards of fitness. But when you get right down to it, everyone, and I mean EVERYONE has their own subjective idea of what healthy is.

Take eating for example. Do you eat healthy? Yeah, except when I don't.

So, what are you doing when you eat healthy? Are you soaking, sprouting, grinding, kneading, frying, poaching, roasting, sorting, dehydrating, growing, picking, peeling, shucking, canning, freezing, baking, or just plain clucking?

organic, non-organic, trans-fats, or not, sugared, or sugar-free, fattening, and happy fat glee?

As you can see, it's about as confusing as can be, to eat healthy, you and me.

So, what I recommend is the fast food drive through. And think about it for a few days. And if you can, memorize this song.