Criminals aren't that bright

the backyard in the early morning last fall

Well.  Woke up at 5:45am all of a sudden with a pain in my side and wondered if getting up was an option.  Figured not and rolled over.  Then about 5 minutes later, the dogs began to bark.  All of them.  Got up and one son was already at the door looking out the curtain.  It was still dark, but one of our neighbors who was talking on his cellphone appeared to be thinking about walking up to our door, or had already been up there which triggered the dog explosion.

Fast forward a couple of minutes.

Went back to bed, since the neighbor got in his car and drove off without stopping here.  Dogs went nuts again about 5 minutes later with this neighbor and a cop at the door.  Adrenaline rush.  (Gary was handling the situation from this moment on.)  Turns out the neighbor (who was getting ready to leave for work) saw a guy on a bicycle trying to get into our trucks, and he called the police who happened to be in the neighborhood at the time.  Caught the guy!!!

Nothing was stolen from us, but he tried to take my radio, which is the pop-out kind.  My dumb truck.  It has an alarm, which I always set, but my door lock is the only one that won't go down even with me pushing it manually.  The guy got in on my side, the alarm didn't go off (not sure why) and he even tried to break my steering column but the neighbor must've interrupted him.  He pulled off parts, but even with the radio, they fastened back just fine.

He got into another neighbor's truck as well, got stuff, but of course everything was recovered.

Here's the ticket, though.  We'd prayed for safety over our neighborhood and our neighbors, plus for protection over our vehicles before we went to sleep.  I'd say that was an answered prayer, wouldn't you?!! Oh, and we're making cookies for our hero this weekend.  I think he deserves them. :)

Fynn...it's called Fynn

Once again, here's some of Gary's work.  For anyone who is new here---among other things, Gary makes wooden vapors.  They're like a nicotine patch, but more fun (his words, not mine!).  Plus the user gets the perk of a water vapor that mimics the smoke a real smoker enjoys.  The positives? It's all positive and no cancer-causing chemicals.  Just nicotine for those who need/want the fix. This one is made of Spanish cedar, a purple heart inlay, along with a crushed turquoise inlay.  He amazes me with what he creates.  Marry an artist, and this is what you end up with. :)  One more thing...here's a link to the thread he runs at an e-cigarette site.

Here's the deal.  Gary smoked for YEARS, as have many folks who've moved on from traditional tobacco to e-cigs.  They're getting healthy, have stopped coughing and have an alternative to smoking.  Some would say---why don't you just quit smoking for good?  Here's where I'll say that it's easier said than done for many people.  I'm proud to have a husband who'll be here longer.  And I think that's enough.

Later on Thursday

Thought I'd pop back in here again.  What a good day especially in terms of housekeeping.  And now with the rain sort of drizzling outside, I'm in bed with pug Daisy---window up and the fan blowing.  The rain hasn't been the pour down sort, but more of a steady/not-so steady sprinkle.  More please.  But on the plus side is that I could smell the briefest scent of fall in the air.  Odd too since this wind is coming from the Gulf of Mexico.  I think the dampness has brought it out. Gary said he thought the breeze this morning smelled faintly tropical.

Anyway, got lots done in the dining/living rooms.  Major dusting and figured out the new dining chair arrangements.  We're using the lot of them, but Gary wants to keep his grandparent's old chair as his regular seat.  That works.  I love sentimentality.  Makes things more homey, and I do dislike all matchy things.  A bit of a tweak in decorating makes for more interest, I think.

Tomorrow will bring more of the same.  The kitchen/former breakfast room is holding all the stuff I moved around today.  Just ran out steam and it'll have to wait.  I figure that if we can walk around the excess, that'll do until I get to it.

(photo taken by oldest daughter some time ago)

Almost rainy, but not quite

Here we are, sitting on the outer clouds of Isaac and I'm so looking forward to a couple of days of rain.  Well, it's supposed to be like that---and rain makes me so happy. My insides get all settled and soothed when I hear it drumming on the house.  My most peaceful days are rainy ones.

And pinto beans are soaking after a rapid boil.  Will simmer them this afternoon and mash them a bit with onion/garlic, some southwest seasoning and a can of Rotel.  Flour tortillas, cheese and sour cream will round that off.  Comfort food, I call it.

But for now, need to get off my keester and get to work.  There's dusting and re-arranging to finish that I began yesterday afternoon.  Thankfully it's a tad cooler outside, so that the inside of the house, with the overcast skies, is more agreeable to work in.

That's my goal.  I was just talking to Gary who's working on another vapor, and is getting a bit anxious about it.  He's doing some inlay with crushed turquoise and it's kind of tiddly.  Trying to finish up work to pay the bills---lots of repair work (which is our bread and butter), and still with build work for someone with a house in Mississippi.  Still, he struggles with multi-tasking, worrying about tomorrow and fretting about stuff.  I get it, but want him to be able to relax in what he's doing NOW and not look too awfully far ahead.  That seems to work for me, well---when I actually practice it.

Stuff

What the burning bushes will look like in a month or so.  

Drumming my fingers on the table, urging Isaac to lean this way a bit as he travels north out of Louisiana and Mississippi.  We need rain badly, and this is a wonderful opportunity. Yesterday it looked like it would run right on top of us, but today, it seems to be headed to the Plains.  Drat. Hoping the sweep of clouds will be wide enough to get here as well.  The forecast says so; we'll see.

Being hit with that darned depression this week.  Double drat.  Maybe the dark cloud that's following me around will inspire some rain.  Sort of my personal Indian rain dance.

I had the idea of re-arranging the living room while the kids are at my mom's this afternoon.  The boys brought us home 6 matching chairs that were from the restaurant where they work.  They got new ones, and several employees got the (in very good shape) rejects.  They're in perfect shape, but as Gary and I said to each other privately---they match.  We've never had anything that matches in this house, having more of an unintentional shabby chic/country look, that seems to work.  To have dining room chairs that look good will be odd.  We're of the chipped paint sort.  His first words after looking at them (being a woodworking snob) was, "But they're golden oak!"  I'm thinking they'll be sanded down a bit and given a rubbed-through black finish.  Gary can't stand anything that's oak.  In projects for clients he'll do whatever he can to steer them to another wood. He's so funny.

Anyway,  I've got about an hour and a half before I have to fetch the offspring.  Will pick up something for dinner on the way.  My budget is $10 and we'll see what that provides.

Take care.

Now, about those Anglicans

"I wasn't much on comin' over here because of all th' kneelin' and gettin' up and down and all, but we like it."~Uncle Billy in At Home in Mitford

"For the next quarter hour I was busy juggling hymnal, service leaflet, and a black-bound Book of Common Prayer, which for the lady in the black straw hat seemed to open mystically at the proper place for the different responses.  There were times when people stood, which we imitated, and times when they knelt, which we did not.  At last the minister---"rector," the leaflet called him---mounted a handsome carved-oak pulpit to the right of the carved screen, and we settled back for a respite from a very athletic style of worship."~from Elizabeth Sherrill's All the Way to Heaven

Both quotes make me laugh.  Elizabeth Sherrill and her husband later joined that Episcopal church (which they'd never been a part of), loving the liturgy and the church itself.

I concur.  Yet thankful that there's an Anglican version, very conservative, as opposed to the Episcopal one which has sort of gone by the wayside. The very wayside.

(photo from a free online source)

What he said...

Had to settle a bill on the phone just now.   Makes me nervous having to deal with situations that involve money.  It wasn't just the paying of it, but the incorrectly paying of it last week---then getting a notice in the mail. Argh!!!  It's all good now, and my heart can beat normally once again.

I can be so lame.  Which reminds me.

One son brought something to my attention last night.  I'd made the boeuf bourguignon and I said as we were eating that it tasted just like plain old beef stew.  He looked at me and told me that I have this habit of demeaning myself after I've done something out of the ordinary, putting it in an ordinary class.  Or something to that effect.  Made me get tears in my eyes, not at him speaking so frankly (as is his habit), but for this being something he'd noticed.  After skipping a beat I told him I didn't get much encouragement growing up. True, but not something I dwell on.  I cope with that fact by shoving what might be an accomplishment under the pseudo rug, figuring it doesn't bear noticing.

And not to beat my parents over the head, but it's so easy to just not think about complimenting or lifting up another person.  Often it just doesn't occur to us.  And some folks think we don't need to be too self-absorbed so we've gone too much the other way.

Not whining, but thinking how important it is to encourage our own kids. Another son says he gets such a kick out of being praised.  We all need that.

That words of affirmation thing that folks talk about---yeah, I think I need that more than I can say.

(a gift of flowers, but not recently....the latest ones from oldest daughter i forgot to photograph!)

Cozy...

Dinner-time on Saturday

The house is in a bit of a kerfuffle, but am cooking nonetheless.  Have two dear little chickens roasting in the oven and the meat mixings simmering on top of the stove for tomorrow's boeuf bourguignon. Yeah, we're being fancy this weekend. In a minute will cut up some white potatoes to put in the oven as well. Gary has this thing for little brown potatoes and he can be so cute asking, I feel bound to comply. Oh, and did I mentioned that it'd been lightly raining off and on?  Perfect.

Finished reading the Nick Bantock book The Forgetting Room this afternoon.  Wonderful and one that got my creative juices flowing---not in terms of cooking, but more in terms of my paints, charcoals and so on. Well, let's say that now I have no excuses to get my hands dirty.

"It was me who shied away from self-expression."  A perfect quote from the book, and one that speaks to me since I tend to either, over-think things, or believe I've got to do something perfect (ha-ha) before I'm allowed to even try.  Think again.

Anyway, will try to tidy up the joint in a minute.  Get the girls to turn off the X-Box (the noise it makes drives me crazy) and think about what to wear tomorrow to church.  I have one best skirt that's getting a bit old for wearing, so maybe there's something I've missed.  Will go see.

Take care and enjoy your weekend.

Books and stuff

Got back from the library about an hour ago.  It had to be quick since we had fourth son with us, and he had to be at work at around 2:30pm.  Here's my stack of books---can't vouch for most of them, so don't scold me if you wonder why I got some/any of them. I warn you, the Thomas Tryon is a horror book.  I do enjoy scary stuff sometimes.  Always have.  Not sure if that one will be over-the-top, though.  We'll see.

• Harvest Home by Thomas Tryon
• Lives of Monster Dogs by Kirsten Bakis
• The Seven Sisters by Margaret Drabble
• The Telling by Mike Duran
• The Forgetting Room by Nick Bantock
• The Work of E. H. Shephard---his drawings, etc....Pooh man :)
• In the Country Style:  Timeless Designs for Today's Home

Trying to get in 'chill mode'.  Got an email last night from a neighbor/casual friend who was upset with me about something that happened over a month ago.  Me, I was clueless as to her angst.  Not feeling the love, just now, so am distracting myself with books.  Wrote her back, expressed my viewpoint once again (it dealt with one of our sons and I was a bit hot about it---justly so).  Hope she can, so to speak, bury the hatchet herself too.  Makes me dread opening up my email.

Life can pinch, and there are times when two people just can't see eye-to-eye.  I can deal with that.  Justice isn't always served, and that's got to be allowed as well.  

Have a good one.

(photo from unknown source)

Just today

Emily:  Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?---every, every minute?"

Stage Manager:  "The saints and poets, maybe---they do some."~from Thornton Wilder's Our Town


Just visited two blogs that are making me look at my own life today in a more embracing sort of way.  At one site, the woman survived a stroke in her mid-thirties.  She's still working on it, and will be for years to come.  At the other blog, a woman had lost her husband to cancer just under a year ago.  I get the impression she's in her late thirties or early forties.

Huh?

Some things in life just don't make sense.  Timing, for instance.  My grandparents on my dad's side lived into their eighties.  In a weird twist, my mom's parents died in their forties/fifties.  Too young.  Well, too young in my mind, especially being that I've already outlived my mom's dad's age, and am fastly (which is a word I like, even though some would say that it's not a word...silly people) approaching the age my mom's mom was when she passed away.  They both died of cancer....one of the stomach and the other of the liver.  My mom and her sister, their only children, are both, respectively, in their eighties and nineties.  No cancer in either of them, and I find that amazing.

So here I sit, without much energy (and not because of any illness, but because of pure laziness and a mid-life feeling of oldness), yet with a sense of purpose, nonetheless.  I want to do stuff, but feel a bit out-of-sorts.  Part of me, though, thinks that this is unacceptable considering that I just read about two women who are dealing with very, very hard times.

I've never liked stories where life throws those curve balls.  The times when in an instant, everything changes.  They scare me.  I have to think hard on God's plans and His designs, which are always perfect.  I admit, though, that I don't always like it.

Right now, this very minute, this very day when I don't have to leave the house, I'll just do what's in front of me.  To be thankful for good health today, and enough food in the house to feed this brood.  And I'll leave it at that.

(the photo is by my husband)

Mid-week's mutterings

Online briefly just now.  Got in some groceries, trying to figure out why the fridge is accumulating water under the crisper drawers (have searched online and think it's one of two things), and about to fold the laundry with the girls.  Youngest son just mopped the kitchen floor, there's chicken cooking for Chicken Alfredo, and the least one made yeast roll dough.  Have I left anything out?

Well, will hopefully get some clearing out done (read:  a tiny bit) in the front garden after dinner.  Figure if I do it bits at a time, the job won't be overwhelming.  It's been so dry, the black-eyed Susans are sad-looking and the echinacea is as well.  I want to cut them to the ground and let the obedient plants have some room.  The Susans have so taken over and what was attractive, has gotten way  overgrown.  Like my own life, I want some space...that mood is trickling down into what I want inside and outside of the house.

Guess it's sort of Fall Cleaning, versus Spring Cleaning.  Mental room sounds nice as it does in my 3-dimensional world.  And with my new Yankee Candle Pumpkin Spice candles burning lately, I'm ready for a change of season.  Seems true with many of us. :)

Think I might take the kids to the library tomorrow.  My last pile was a bit stinky, not my taste, and I want to find some new titles to read.  Would love to find a new author along the lines of Rosamunde Pilcher/Elizabeth Goudge/Miss Read/Dodie Smith/D. E. Stevenson.  And, yes, I'll take suggestions.  Please.

(neat photo of old books just because---courtesy of wikipedia)

Monday night

Middle daughter wants to go through Confirmation with me next month.  I asked the rector and he says that if I can get her up to speed in terms of the lessons we've already had, then it'll be fine.

Thinking tomorrow will be an offline day.  And maybe the day after that.  If I'm smart, I'll walk away for a bit.

Anyway, I'm a bit tired of technology.  Happens from time to time.  I need to avoid glowing screens and get out my paints and new oil pastels. Besides a couple of small boxes, my spot to work is finished and just needing me to make an artistic mess in it.

Be back in a day or two.

Feeling slow

A quiet day.  After a weekend that seemed a bit overbusy, it's nice to be in bed with the window open and just enjoy the noise of the fan blowing.  Had planned on watching an Inspector Lewis on my laptop this afternoon (after a brief grocery store run) but have been reading blogs instead. Well, one in particular.  Entertaining my brain.

I woke with a mildly achy head.  Felt punky and have been a bit easier on myself as a result.  The laundry's gotten washed and hung out, but only that.  Some days are like that---with needing to be kinder to myself.  Least that's the way I look at it.  Have tried to read a book, but my head (which still feels a bit off) wants simple food to eat.  Big words and extensive thinking just don't seem to fit the bill today.  Had picked up a Charles Williams (a pal of Tolkien and CSLewis) book at the library that was on hold and I just can't get into it.  When there's too much imagery, I often miss out.  Like missing the punchline to a joke.  I'm just not feeling it. :)

So will putter through the rest of the day.  Thankfully I have a husband who doesn't fuss at me when he comes home to a house that looks either similar to, or worse than the one he left in the morning.  With 8 kids in and out, he'd be mean to hold me up to an overly high standard.  But I'll probably make an effort.  A tiny one.

A restful Sunday afternoon

Window's up.  Fan's blowing. It's warm, but not that warm. The breeze is cool and stirring my freshly dyed hair. :) Church was wonderful, as usual, but maybe more so since the spirit in the service was so sweet. Prayer for students and teachers, and a healing prayer at the end---that always makes me cry.  To see folks gathered at the altar and to see the priest say a prayer over them while anointing them with oil is amazing.  It's the tenderness of the sacrament that's so sweet.

I tend to think on services from my past and how 'sanitized' the Protestants have become.  This isn't a dig, but just an observation.  I've been in churches where even the topic of anointing with oil is approached with suspicion.  It can be looked on as outlandish and excessive, and can make folks squirm.  Maybe folks think it's too Catholic, and I'll tell you, I've had some adjusting to do myself.  But I truly do love it.

Oh, as a special thank-you to God for His provision, Gary sold 3 of his wood vapors just this weekend.  One was a buy one/get one and the other was a single sale.  The ones with bling were bought as a pair, and the one called 'scream' will go live somewhere else as well.  The scream one made me think of that painting by Edvard Munch, but Gary said it reminded him of that creepy movie of the same name.  My idea was classier by a long shot.

The really neat part of those sales is that we have a bill due on Tuesday.  He put the sale up last night, got contacted immediately by one buyer, and both sales (unconnected) went through this morning.  The bill will be taken care of.  God's timing always amazes me.

Anyway.  That's what's up here.  Must go rest.  There's pizza to whip up later on, oldest daughter bought us some ice cream for our traditional Sunday night dessert yummies and not much else going on.  Sounds like plenty.

End of the week

Got up lazy-like and at around 2pm took fourth son out for a bit.  Not anything amazing, but we got air in one of my truck tires (slow leak), some gas, drugstore trip, Target, and the grocery store.  Way too many stops, and I should know better, but it all had to be done.  Came home exhausted, but in a good way.  This son is fun to shop with, very patient, and just a neat kid.  Ah, and he bought me a box of hair color!  We're going chestnut this go around, so looking forward to that later on tonight.

Stir fry chicken for dinner and now everyone who's not working at the restaurant is either watching Lemony Snicket on the DVD player or just being alone.  Two of my chickens have something on their minds, but don't want to talk about it.  The struggles of motherhood AND the struggles of being young.  Hard all around, but just about growing up.

Looking forward to the settled quality of church tomorrow.  Clothes are ready and folded/hanging up, and now I just need some mental quiet space to level me off.  When life pinches, I need to allow more room in my head.

Take care.

A beautiful quote from 3 years ago...

"It had been his first meal since Rose's death: a veal stew with tiny pearl onions and pink peppercorns; a half-dozen corn muffins, studded with a confetti of hot peppers in pink and green. There were sausages, brown and glistening, in an earthenware jar. A faceted glass bottle held wine. He ate two pieces of the chocolate cake, dense and rich and flavored with coffee, and then he pushed back from the table, his hands over his middle, tears running down his face.

This was Rose's cooking, yet with something slightly altered about it--some herb he did not recognize in the sausages, rum in the cake. But he had known, even as he raised the lid of the basket, that its contents would restore to him the flavor and essence of sustenance, the pleasure of Rose's table, which had made him, throughout his marriage, nearly faint with gratitude. He had known that the meal to follow would be good--he could smell it, and if he could smell it, he knew, he could taste it."--from Rose's Garden by Carrie Brown

Busyness

Here's a photo of the kitchen shelves with lace curtains (which are actually tablecloths) set over tension rods.  A temporary look, since I'm thinking of something more non-see-through. Cost-wise this works, though.

My main squeeze had to spend dollars on a new hot water heater this morning.  The kids got us out of bed in the wee hours with the hot water heater leaking through the ceiling.  It's in the attic (not wise, but it's how it's always been), and is the second heater we've had to replace.  The globe of the ceiling fixture in the hallway got water in it as well.  One of the boys said he felt he was on the Titanic.  Silly boy.

Anyway, Gary and 2 of the boys are installing it now.  Man, they are HEAVY. Speaking not from experience in moving one, so you know, but seeing their red faces when they hauled the old one out and the new one in is proof enough.

Feeling a bit frazzled at the busyness of the morning.  Thankfully it's a quiet day weather-wise.  When I get out of bed to too much activity (whether it's mine or not), I get a bit zippy feeling.  After some time in this dark bedroom, should be back up to speed.

Take care.

Anticipation

This is perfect, and what I'm thinking about on this mild and rainy August day with my pumpkin candle flickering in front of me. Time to think cozy thoughts and not sweaty ones.

Fall really is best, and for those of us who are melancholy, it's OUR season. :)

A grey day

It would be nice if moods were consistent---if upon waking, I'd automatically put on my happy face.  But apparently I've mislaid it.  There's a cloud that's following me today, though, and not sure when it'll pass. Dang that depression that lurks around the corner and then jumps out at me.  The photo fits the mood.  Think I'll go read and pretend to be someone else, for a change.

.

Kitchen cleaning and re-arranging

Second son took these two photos with his new phone, and the perspective is a tad different than when I take pictures.  For one, he's about 6'-4" tall, so his viewpoint is higher up.  Oh, and if you're paying attention, you can see the tape/velcro combination that keeps the oven door shut!

Anyway, just sharing our kitchen fiasco.  Wasn't aware he was taking shots, so these are totally unplanned. In one I'm  'thinking about it' and in the next am still thinking (while sucking down copious amounts of Coke Zero), while the least one prepares her tea.

In a cool way, we thought the photos looked like they were taken long ago---old kitchen, etc.  Well, that part is true, especially since nothing has been upgraded.

Hope to finish putting things away after nap-time.  Least that's the plan.

Lewis' church

Holy Trinity Church in Headington Quarry is where C. S. Lewis attended services with his brother for around 30 years.  Lovely.

Clearing out

Moving things out of the soon-to-be pantry/art room.  My goodness, how much can I cram into one 9x9' room?  I think it's about that size.  Small house with small rooms.  The kids' bedrooms are about 10x10' or so.  You do with what you have or fuss about it.  I'd rather cope. Fussing is out.

The plan is to get it finished today, but you know how that is. Rooms that end up as junk collectors have issues with piles, and things that really don't have homes.  Just now fourth son helped me with the heavy things---big dog crate that will go in the attic, baking pans from the restaurant that won't fit in our oven so will get tossed, paint cans that need to go where paint cans go which is on the shelf over our bedroom closet, etc. And fifth son is mopping/scrubbing the floor underneath it all.  When I crawl out of bed in, say, ten minutes or so, I'll start putting things back. Can't wait to get the sewing/painting table all fixed up with my goodies.

Anyway, that's what's cookin' in our neck of the woods.  I'm thinking that the cooler weather (in the 80's here during the day and maybe the 60's/low 70's at night) that my energy level is a bit more perky.  A nice change at that.  I've been dragging so much this summer, that any excuse to get things done is a plus.

Will possibly take after photos, but don't hold your breath.  It sure won't look like the photo I'm sharing from Pinterest!  Besides that's a tad too girlie for me.  Cute, though.

(clickable pinterest photo)

A restful Monday evening

Not being Catholic, I still like some of their stuff. One of the books I ordered last week after watching 'Monastery' on YouTube came in the mail today.  This one is Humble Pie:  St. Benedict's Ladder of Humility  by Carol Bonomo. Very restful reading.  Very.  Writers with a more evangelical bent (so many popular publishers I review for fit in that category) are a bit more aggressive with their writing angle.  There's more energy.  The Catholics, though, seem to have all the time in the world to get their point across.  There's a quietness that's missing in some of the Protestant writing.  Not sure why. And yes, while that sounds like a blanket statement, it's really not meant to be.  Let's say that the Catholic books I've read  fit into that box.

I like peaceful writing.  The world is so noisy and if someone can get their point across with a gentleness and grace, then I'll be attracted to it.  Also if there's a avoidance of too much finger-pointing, I'll appreciate that as well.  I'm not talking about not calling a wrong a wrong.  But maybe not force-feeding you in regards to it.  Hope that makes sense.  Yelling isn't necessary, but just a quiet sharing of information.

See, I've been out of the mega church for a couple of months now (had been taking the kids there on Saturday nights and going to the Anglican church on Sunday mornings), and am enjoying organ music in church again. Worship has become just that.  Worship.  No contemporary praise music, but hymns I remember from childhood.  I'm learning to appreciate the meat in a few minutes of silence.

But the coolest thing about this new book is that in the bibliography in the back, one of Patricia's websites is noted.  Even in death she keeps cropping up, and I gotta love that.

Sunday afternoon

Well, after getting answers to some questions at confirmation class this morning, plus with talking to Gary about it---am going through with joining the Anglican church in September.  Had discussed it with the kids to get their feedback and they're all supportive, esp. the ones who go with me every Sunday, and that's half of them! The rest of them are open to 'whatever'. We have such neat kids.  Gary just assumed that my attendance at the class meant I was going to join.  Seems we were connecting even without talking about it. He's totally supportive.  Just isn't interested in it for himself at this point.

So.  I'm excited, sorta trembly and with going over the order of service for the confirmation this morning in the class, nervous as well.  But it feels good to be talking of belonging.  And after years of driving by this particular church, longing for that tiny community of people, I'll be part of it as well.  Still wowed by God's leading and of how it's all panned out. Every little detail.  And slowly too.  I never do things quickly and with me attending a year, surely there aren't any more surprises.  Do you think?

(photo from pinterest)

A restful Saturday afternoon

Feeling lazy and that's not what I want. In my heart of hearts, I want to accomplish something of value, but it might not happen.  Okay, so value is, pretty much, a relative term. Truly, the weather is so splendid outside, and the windows are up all over the house. It got to the 60's last night and is only 86F. right now. And while I had my tea this morning, raised the living room window and lit a pumpkin-scented candle. Also put some oatmeal cookie scented wax in the electric tart warmer SIB's family gave us. Neat that the remains of a candle work fine in the little dish that goes on top of the warmer. Love that.

Now have some beans simmering for minestrone. Will add bits from the cabinet, including the rest of the red lentils. I have some Polish sausage to brown and some shell pasta, some garlic/olive oil tomatoes in a can and maybe some split peas will finish it off. When I'm done, the cabinet will be empty! Then will whip some cornbread muffins. A cozy meal for a mild day. SIB will probably be here for dinner. He and oldest daughter are out and about---they've gone to one of the art galleries and are taking it easy. I love days like this. The weather is key to my mood---cooler days make me feel so content.

Oh, and the main squeeze and I are going to watch a movie later on as well. We're thinking an old Merchant Ivory one---his idea.  Now, if nobody tells him about the Batman marathon on one of the channels, I can see the movie of my choice.  We'll see if everyone keeps mum!

(clickable pretty kitchen photo from pinterest)

Friday afternoon

Chillin'.  Got in a grocery store trip this afternoon, and then piled into bed with pug Daisy.  The fan's blowing on us and the curtain is drawn except for a peek at the backyard.  All the rain that was forecast passed us by, but it is a tiny bit cooler.  Still, the sun's blazing away and it's hot if you stand smack-dab in the middle of the yard.

I finished watching the Monastery series on YouTube last night. Excellent.  There is some language in it (just a warning), but it's not gratuitous at all.  I was so touched at watching the 5 men gradually be softened by the atmosphere of the monastery and the behavior of the monks themselves.  Very comforting.  And in a day where we're surrounded by modern churches with their loud praise music and lack of silence, I think this sort of series is well thought out.  I ordered 2 books last night to go with the Finding Sanctuary that the abbot of the monastery wrote (still waiting for that one to arrive).  The men regularly carry around a book on the Benedictines called, The Rule of St. Benedict in English by Timothy Fry.  I also got Humble Pie:  St. Benedict's Ladder of Humility by Carole Bonomo, which is a book one of the men was reading, and the title stuck in my mind.  Humility---a good trait to search out, but one we rarely feel we lack.

Must be I'm in the right place being that the Anglicans so appeal to me.  I realize it's not Roman Catholic, but some of the trimmings are the same.  The church I go to is considered, I think, High Church with most of the bells and whistles represented.  They don't do incense except at Christmas (which I missed, and have never experienced), but all the other rituals are pretty similar to the fanciest of the fancy.  And the thing is---I'm tired of moving around, church-wise, and realize that it's impossible to find the perfect fit. Most church-goers would probably agree with that.

Well, enough chatter.  I need to make inroads on the shelves in the kitchen and tidy the living room a bit.  The black dogs are shedding to beat the band, and we need to vacuum.  SIB will be here later on with oldest daughter.  Must make a good impression---and sometimes it's a effort!

(clickable pinterest photo)

Scattered thoughts

• About to put the chicken on for dinner.  Love the heavy porcelain-covered iron pot I use.  Dishy.  
• Cleaning out the shelves today in the pseudo pantry---so dusty
• Hoping for rain, it's what's forecast, but not sure where they're (the weather fairies) gonna get it---the meteorologists must be mistaken
• Feeling pretty smoooooth today---can't account for it
• Wonder why women get into Amish fiction---guess it's just not my thing
• Chocolate would be nice right about now
• Might whip some of those no-bake chocolate oatmeal drop cookies
• Hope Gary's having a good day at the shop---he has trouble turning off his work mentality 'cause when he gets home, he gets online immediately re:  the vapors he's making
• But I'm not complaining---work is work
• Balance is a good thing, but often hard to implement
• Glad to have a teensy bit of money in the bank for groceries---makes me feel secure
• Doesn't take much
• And my mom gave me $20 fun money yesterday---note to self---don't buy toilet paper with it
• Trying to get the front garden into shape---the flowers aren't too happy---too dry and the sprinkler can only do so much
• God's rain is best
• One son cut the grass this morning---another will trim it out after dinner--it'll be news to him as he's taking a nap now and in the dark as to my plan
• Will go drink something cold and caffeinated in a second---motivation over ice
• Must go now and get 'er done

Thinking about tomorrow

Tomorrow is a home day and I'm quite excited about it. Well, quietly so.  I'd already bought dinner for tonight, but Gary asked me out at the last minute, and that was a sweet surprise. So---I don't have to buy anything for tomorrow's meal.  Chicken cacciatore is what'll it'll be---made with the leftover marinara sauce from last night's spaghetti.

Besides, I need *me* time.  Just to be able to settle my thoughts and tidy up my nest a bit.  Feeling a bit ragged around the edges and some inward focus will be a good thing.  I'll sort the books by my bed, keep re-arranging the old breakfast room more into pantry space, and will try to do all of it in a deliberate manner. Slowly and, well---that's just it---slowly.

I'm glad that tomorrow is Thursday and not Friday.  On Fridays we have to make the main areas of the house presentable for when sweet Indian boyfriend comes over.  Happy to be spared another day before that happens.

Oh, and one more thing.  I bought some red lentils at the Mediterranean store recently and we cooked them the other night.  Had always bought the brown/grey colored lentils at the regular grocery before---never the colored ones.  They taste so different.  Lovely.  I chopped about half an onion (what I had) in a little butter, added the lentils with enough water to cover.  Then sprinkled in some garlic, two chopped tomatoes, some chopped carrots sauted in a bit of butter, and two chicken bouillon cubes, along with some dried basil.  I think that's all.  Let me tell you---we all loved it.  Fourth son made baking powder biscuits to go along with them and that was dinner. Definitely would do it again.  And here's the thing.  I got a good-sized bag of the red lentils, not sure how big (it's not in front of me), but I used about 4 cups, I guess.  Next time I'll use the entire bag and it'd leave enough for seconds.  At under $2.00 for the bag, what a bargain.  They reminded me of peanuts.  Yum.

(photo from tumblr)

Church stuff

I'm two ways about this confirmation class at church. Have really, really enjoyed learning about the Anglican church (and the class isn't over yet), but have been flummoxed by how different some of their traditional beliefs are from my own.  I even got to reading about J.I. Packer's life within the Anglican community last night.  I wasn't aware when I first began visiting the Anglican church that Packer was from that faith as well. He's been in town several times speaking at reformed Presbyterian churches, and with Gary loving to read him, he's a familiar topic of conversation when church stuff comes up.  That and Chesterton.  Gary is crazy about him as well---and Chesterton was a Catholic, and such a cool one at that.

Anyway, fast forward.  I have a problem with the viewpoint of the Anglicans/Episcopalians, Catholics and Orthodox of salvation being dependent on baptism and the consistent taking of communion.  Those seem to be key.  The thing is, I'm a Calvinist.  But then again, so is Packer.  I believe in the 5 points of Calvinism, as does Packer.  Now, I'm not trying to fashion my life after his.  Good luck with that!  But it's encouraging to read about someone who is highly respected who's found a place in an ancient, traditional church, even though many of those members could be at odds with his belief system.  Not sure if he has issues with this, but after hearing some of the comments in the confirmation class that were condemning of Calvin, well, I've had to renew my learning from the Presbyterians.  It's what I know.

Doubtful if I'll go through with joining the Anglican church next month when the bishop comes.  I'd rather have Gary beside me, and I think there are some things I need to iron out in my own head.  Am glad at being forced to think for myself, and decide what's important.  And the thing about the Presbyterians here...the church we used to go to had closed communion.  I have huge problems with that.  Huge.  And so many of them are very upper class and don't fit in with our laid-back lifestyle.  The Anglican church is more middle-of-the-road in terms of members---not so fancy and they're very comfortable to be with.  And I adore the liturgy.  Adore it.

It feels good to know what I believe.  It's probably hard to agree with others about everything, and within a church even more so.

(for some reason this photo fits...not sure exactly why)

Pantry angst

Suffering from pantry envy, and scratching my head and trying to think of how to make our two free-standing shelves pantry-worthy.  They sit at right angles to one another in what used to be our breakfast room.  When the family grew too much to use the room for a meal, we put the dining room table where it belongs---in the dining room. Sounds classy to eat in the dining room, but it's really not. Necessity warranted it since we only have one table.

Fast forward.  Gary bought two 6' white bookcases a couple of years ago to put in the breakfast room, which also has a small freezer, and a long table for crafts/sewing (hahahaha). I want the shelves to be more attractive, and have played with the idea of tension rods (with curtains) to cover up the stuff/cans/mugs/small appliances.  Plus, the backdoor is in that room, as is our bedroom door.  The outside door attracts all sorts of dog dirt, so a cover on the shelves might make them stay tidier.  And on top of the clutter, Romeo (the puppy) chewed the bottom of one of the bookshelves, so I need to touch up the paint so that it's not so much of an eyesore.  And now the shelves hold cookbooks, and everything I mentioned above.  I want it nice, though, and sometimes it seems too big a task.

Not an easy room to decorate.  Lots of stuff, nowhere else to put it, and surely there's an answer that's pretty and pleasing. I'd take a before picture, but it's that rotten!

(clickable pinterest photo)

Monastery series

Watching a video series from 2005 called Monastery on YouTube that was originally shown on the BBC.  Wonderful stuff with a monastery in England taking in 5 ordinary men for a six week period.  They get initiated into monastic life and while I'm not even half-way through with it, the series is very soothing.  Will be interesting to see how the men fare after their time is up.  One note:  I will admit to having a bit of difficulty with some of their accents.  It might be my headphones, but the English and in one case, Irish, accent is a tiny bit hard to understand for these American ears.  That's not their problem, though, but mine.

I ordered the companion book that one of the abbots, Christopher Jamison, wrote about the experience, called Finding Sanctuary.  I had it on my wish list on Amazon and when I got my Swagbuck's $5.00 gift card tonight (earned using their search engine), bought the book.  I had one penny to spare afterward. :) Can't say anything about the other sites/books the Finding Sanctuary page recommends, since I only know what I've seen on the video series. Sometimes when folks see the words 'mystic', 'contemplative', and 'meditate' they become a bit squirmy. I try to see past some of that and look to get to the meat of what's being said. Anyway, the series up to part 6, where I am, is very good. Hope some of you enjoy it.

A draggy sort of Monday afternoon

Trying and failing to inspire myself.  There are so many things that need to be done in this house---just basic tidiness, but I just don't want to do it. And you can't make that excuse too many times, or folks tend to not believe you're doing anything during the day.
Okay, so I'm not doing anything NOW.  Doesn't mean I'm an absolute waste of time, though. Just not very motivated.

And I hate those times when you have to get it in gear, really have to, and don't want to.  It's the same-ness that's so wearing, as any stay-at-home person will attest to.

Gary and I need to get out of the house together.  A change of venue would be a treat.  Doesn't have to be much, but something.

I think I'm in a rut.

(clickable photo from pinterest)

Church stuff

Looking up Anglican terms online and after attending confirmation class today, I feel like my head's going to explode. Lots of information, and much of it contrary to the evangelical sort of upbringing I've gotten.  Golly.

Still, am so drawn to this church, and am getting an education I never got in any other church denomination.  The teaching is so thorough.

I was talking to Gary about it after coming home this morning, and he agreed that it's meeting so many needs for me.  Some aren't religion-oriented, as in the cuteness of the property (yes, I can be lame), or as I've said, the Mitford quality of all of it, but still---God has answered my prayer for a church home in such specific ways, and I find that amazing.  Small details are fulfilled.  Wild.

Anyway, must give my poor head a break.  The brain sponge is dripping.

About Gary

So, my husband is just such a darned unique person.  First off, he's an artist.  I noticed that the first time I went to his apartment before we married.  He'd taped off the walls and painted designs on it.  And he had canvases scattered here and there.  But when we'd gotten to know one another with long, long conversations previous to me seeing his place, he never mentioned that part of himself.  In looking back, I think that's sort of odd.  Unless it was such an ingrained part of his personality, that he didn't even think of it.

Anyway, fast-forward about 30 years and he's creating these wood vapors (for the nicotine and none of the harm).  He finished up the one pictured yesterday afternoon, posted it online, and kerPOW, it sold last night.    These recovering smokers are such suckers (forgive the pun) for these things.  Lots of folks are building them, but except for one guy who makes pipes for non-smokers, Gary seems to be one of the few, of not only, ones who are making actual sculptures.

Back to the art.  Those who are creative have to create.  'Nuf said.

(photo to right is a vapor in action...you're seeing water vapor, not actual cigarette smoke...it just mimics what a smoker is used to)

Friday night

Tetchy stomach last night and today. But I think that dishy shortbread the least one made after dinner helped quite a lot.  Not kidding.  Or maybe I was just hungry after my minor fast. Of course, it's a good idea to lay off the food some days.  Or be like the dogs and eat grass in the mornings. I'm not keen on the throwing up part of what dogs do, but they all do it.  A good purge is probably excellent for the soul.  Dogs are in touch with their baser instincts, and we could learn something from that.  Well, sometimes.

It's easy to get into a hurry up and wait mentality.  Usually I have to be brought up short before I pay attention (thinking my stomach issue is possibly stress-related).  And with the weekend mildly busy with taking fourth son to the Apple store tomorrow, followed by the grocery store, I think Saturday will be busy enough.  Church on Sunday will be a treat with the confirmation class starting up again, after it being put off last week.  Cool.  Imagine.  Finding church cool.  Can't beat that with a STICK!

That said, I need to watch how busy I allow myself to be.  To not get so obsessed with achieving goals that I forget to have fun.  Example.  It'd be really easy to want to run out and get our son to the computer store, run to the grocery and high-tail it back here.  Or.............I can take my time, visit the Anthropologie store while he shops and actually enjoy myself.  Hey.  What a grand idea.

Now must toddle off.

Market Day

Okay, so I got up too early. Bad call.  Five hours of sleep really isn't enough especially considering what I filled my day with---goodness.  Still.  I had a good time.  With most places closed until a 9am opening time, I went to the grocery store first.  Brought the stuff home and left again. Came back with my loose tea, some red dal (lentils), my library book, two teacups for the little girls and another book from the thrift store, shelf paper and my tired, weary bones.  Chilled most of the rest of the day, except for the part where I put paper in one 'former' junk drawer.

Deep breath.

Now looking at the stash of books I have to read.  I really am such a glutton. The stack of books by my bed is always toppling over.  Always.  Right now there are---let me count 'em---fifteen in the main pile, not counting the ones leaning hither and yon.  And the thing is, I do actually read them all.

Finished the Charles Todd mystery I mentioned at nap-time today.  Now have The Towers of Trebizond by Rose MacAulay (which I've read a good portion of), An Everlasting Meal by Tamar Adler (up to chapter four of that one), Holy Ghosts: Or How a (Not So) Good Catholic Boy Became a Believer in Things That Go Bump in the Night (picked up today at the library), and also Exercising Your Soul by Gary Jansen (a dollar store book that's very good). And I got The Journal Keeper: A Memoir by Phyllis Theroux in the mail today.  There's Faith and Practice by Frank E. Wilson, a book the rector highly recommends for those of us attending the confirmation class...full of Anglican goodness.  The rest can wait and gather dust for awhile.

This is why that housework just isn't a verb most days in this house. :)

(painting by franck antoine bail called 'a maid watering flowers')

One of my favorite things...

Most folks who know me, don't know about my passion---and yes, I say passion for Pre-Columbian art.  It's just not something that comes up in an everyday/ordinary conversation.  I was so tickled to see this photo of a vase found in an excavation in Uxul, Mexico.  When I was in college, studying for my Interior Design degree, my favorite subject had nothing to do with my major, but was art history---especially anything dealing with Pre-Columbian artifacts.  Or show me articles on Easter Island, the Aztecs or Mayans and, even now, I get all excited.

And when our former next-door neighbor, who's from Ecuador, had a yard sale awhile back, he brought over the statue (seen left) for me. It wasn't in the sale---he just knew I'd have a fit over it, and he was right.  It's just a reproduction, but to me, it's a treasure.

(clickable photo above showing the article about the dig)

A hot Wednesday's doings

Got lots of nothin' accomplished today!  Well, to give myself a tiny bit of credit, finished painting the kitchen vitamin/tea cabinet with a fresh coat of the light green enamel that's also on the walls.  It was my grandmother's cabinet, and while she always kept it white---in my possession it's been dark gray, pink, chartreuse and now light green.  Looks pretty dishy, if I do say so myself.

Spent time just putting things away.  Re-potted my new Lucky Bamboo in a new espresso cup I got recently.  Works fine, if a bit tippy.  And that was about the limit of my workday.

Tomorrow am planning on a morning away from the house.  Picking up a library book on hold, buying more of my loose tea at the Mediterranean store around the corner, and getting some more of the pretty shelf paper at the dollar store.  They have lots!  And if I'm really a good girl, will begin all of it with prayer at church.  Ha.  Will depend on how early I can get to bed.  Double ha.

About to read more of my current fancy---Charles Todd's The Confession. Excellent.  All of this author's books have been a treat---mysteries that take place about 100 years ago after WWI.  Good stuff.  Now will go see what the kids are up to.  Oldest daughter made noises earlier about baking chocolate chip cookies.  Let's see if she comes through (fingers crossed).

'Call of a Coward' by Marcia Moston

Call of a Coward:  The God of Moses and the Middle-Class Housewife is one of the most honest books I've read in a long time.  Seems so often Christians are determined to appear more in control than is realistic.  In her book about their family's (unexpected to her) trip to serve as missionaries in Guatemala, Marcia Moston never shows off or lets the reader think that she has it all figured out.  How refreshing.

From the time her husband shares of his desire to leave their comfortable New Jersey home for Central America, Moston expresses her doubts, frustrations and fears at being somewhere totally foreign.  The encouraging part, however, is how the Lord slowly works on her heart and gives her a love for the people they're helping.  And when that time comes to an end, her deep affection for the people they'd grown close to is very sweet to read.

The story doesn't end there though.  Moston also shares about their lives after returning to the US.  And while they seem to spend a lot of time scratching their heads wondering what's ahead, the Lord was always right by their sides. The miracle of jobs, house buying and re-exploring the mission field later on is an encouragement.

I'd say that this book is perfect for anyone who thinks that being a Christian is about having all the answers.  Clearly, that's just not the case.

(i received this book free to review from thomas nelson/booksneeze)