On a Monday

'You get a feeling when you look back on life that that’s all God wants from us, to live inside a body He made and enjoy the story and bond with Him through the experience.'--from A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller

Sorting through homeschool materials today, our first day being the day after Labor Day. That was the habit I grew used to in college, and that's what we hold to now. Just seems more appropriate to start when the first small sniff of Fall is in the air.

And the weather couldn't be any more delightful. The temperatures in the 60s at night and in the low/middle 80s during the day. The windows were up yesterday, and hopefully can remain that way today.

I was able to be a hermit yesterday, and putter along and rest. That's the way Sundays ought to be. We're way too busy (the world in general) and quiet is good. Read more of 'The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie' by Alan Bradley, but decided I couldn't finish it just now, so passed it onto a son. Good book. I'm thinking it might be the next book made into a movie...sort of Lemony Snicket-esque, if you know what I mean. And it's not that it's purposefully depressing (in an amusing way) like Snicket, far from it, but the story has a vintage feel and the children are more mature than the ordinary, run-of-the-mill kid around town. The main character is an 11 year old girl, Flavia, very cool. Will check it out at the library again when it goes off the seven-day list. I need more time!

So instead of reading ALL the time, will organize today and clean the house. I bought 2 dozen brown eggs at the grocery the other day (sale at 99 cents/dozen), but already had over a dozen white ones at home. Guess what's for dinner! With biscuits. That'll be easy. Plus the house needs major dusting---and while the weather has been wonderful, we could do with some rain. This dry weather, plus having windows open, nevermind having 4 dogs and 10 people traipsing through the rooms---has contributed to a very dusty house.

Off to drink my tea and think about it. Oddly enough, the house still sleeps. Must take advantage of it.

Herbal gardening

Harvested some echinacea this afternoon, plus some chocolate mint to dry for Winter teas. The echinacea did poorly in the garden this Summer, but the mint looks healthy. With our off again, on again rains the plants did tolerably well, but some things suffered.

I just told my husband that there are few things I enjoy doing more than writing and/or working with my herbs. It's not the weeding, or poking around outside either...it's more the hanging up to dry, and putting things up in my vitamin cabinet. Makes me feel faintly mystical. And partly it's the connection with my ancestors. I just love that.

One of my German maternal grandfathers, way back when, was an herbal doctor. I'm talking WAY back when, like in the 1700s in North Carolina. There's a story that he helped heal someone who'd been scalped. Likely there are more mundane tales about what he did, but that's the one I find repeated in family papers. Not sure of the turn-out of that situation, but it makes for a good story. Plus, my dad's mother was big into herbs and passed her Nicholas Culpeper herbalist book down to me. Now, that's a treasure. The fact that we inherit urges and talents from ancestors bodes well with me. 'Course I'm talking about the good traits. Not touching on the iffy ones. ;) As to the herbs, doesn't hurt that there's a good dose of Chickasaw Indian sprinkled around in my genes.

Off now to putter and think about things. Daisy my Pug sits against my feet, so all is well with the world.

Saturday's thinking

Back from church this evening after a quiet day. I'd gotten up with the dogs at 7am (much better than the old habit of 5:30am), fed them, puttered around doing much of nothing and went back to bed to read at near 9am. Fell asleep again, after reading a few pages, and stayed that way until 12:30. Can you believe that?

Must be I've been overtired. Hard to catch up. Just wish I felt rested inside. I'm burdened with stuff, nothing overwhelming but plain living. Had gotten into the routine of enjoying our peaceful Sundays, but one of our older sons enjoys going to a different church on Sunday mornings and since he doesn't drive yet (though is old enough---just not very motivated to want it badly enough), one of us takes him and picks him up. First born is good about filling in with that job. And while I should be proud that this other son is willing to go with us on Saturday nights and still attend a different church, sometimes I just want everyone to sit still.

Having eight kids can be a bit of a challenge, even to a seasoned mother like me. In the old days it was easier. Young mothers might look forward to their children driving and making decisions, and I thought that way at one time too. The thing is, the pressure is different now. When they're younger, you can boss them and control most everything they come in contact with. I don't have that option anymore.

So, sometimes I need everyone at home and safe. Just settles my soul, I guess.

Beautiful...

Thanks to Dana for the link. :)

Civil Dis*bedience

Husband told me about the 2010 C*nsus that's going to be required next year, and it's got me to wondering what's really necessary. You can load a PDF file of the document (about 70-80 pages or so) to see what questions were asked 'way back when' and what's new. (I'm not providing a link, not wanting to be tracked, but it's easy to locate in a search engine.) The latest refer to health insur*nce issues and that sort of thing. Oh, and how many times an individual has been married. Now THAT'S important. But if you consider what's been asked in past surveys, you can see that it's a very intrusive piece of stuff. Period.

I don't even remember filling one out 10 years ago, and even more so, don't remember anyone knocking on our door telling us to fill out the form. 'Course I've been raising babies forever, so distraction *is* my middle name.

From what I've learned, a person does need to supply names, ages, and the number of folks who live in a dwelling. Beyond that, it's up to you. Least that's what I'm reading. You can be fined a maximum of a hundred bucks for not answering, and 500 for false information.

In the records of the olden days, they included very basic information. And if you read up on this online, you'll find stories that make the document sound oh, so harmless. Like it's held confidentially, and nobody will take advantage of what they're learning about you. And, yes, I'm being sarcastic.

Educate yourself. Read up on the c*nsus, and make up your own mind. The sad thing about many Americans, and maybe people in general, is their tendency to be sheep. We still have a need to think that those in authority over us have our best interests at heart. Think again. Me? I'm gonna walk carefully.

Deep breaths

Still feeling relief about a decision I made and acted on yesterday. Truly I hadn't realized how weighed-down I'd been about a particular relationship. One of my idiosyncrasies has been my ability to listen to folks share without end. Doesn't matter what they talk about, I listen. The problem has been that once you make that your chief drawing card in a so-called friendship, then abuses follow. Least that's been my experience.

My husband has fussed at me for years about this. Kindly, though. He's been concerned with my frustrated expression when, once again, the friendship isn't equal. I'm the sounding board, but the reverse doesn't follow. Listeners are rarely talkers, but my goodness, we still have something to say!

Just feels like a cool breeze has passed through my life. Uncluttering is good in all forms. It's like I took the mental trash out, and the space left is a treat. Must keep this in mind.

The novice crochet chick

Got out for a bit, and dropped in Michael's to look at crochet yarn. Right inside the door, they had a display of Sugar 'n Cream cotton yarn (dishcloth yumminess), and at 79 cents a piece (clearance--regularly $1.79), I got greedy and picked up seven of them. And the funny thing is, I never got past that display. Got the ones I wanted and checked out. Didn't even darken the store further back. Now that's self control!

This stuff is addictive. If I never progress in my crocheting any further, I have enjoyed making these small dishcloths. With the yarn being varigated, the surprise is in the end result. Like life, really. You never know how things will be until the last hurrah.

Now, must rest and read my book, the Elizabeth Buchan one. So enjoying it.