Didn't Before, But I will Now

I've been washing laundry for... like... ever! You would think by now that I would have learned to check pockets!! That's right mom, most likely because you always told me to do it... now I don't. Still a rebel!

Last Friday morning I walked through the kid's rooms and picked up any laundry on their floors and got a dark load into the washer nice and early so it could get hung on the line. Much to my dismay when I opened the washer after the load finished there was Haley's Zune! (her MP3 player) It was in the pocket of her shorts that I had found on her bedroom floor!! My 11yo daughter loves this thing. She has music playing in her ears ALL the time. (another thing Mike and I need to evaluate at a later date, the amount of time she is "plugged" in) Not to mention these little buggers are not cheap. All I could do was place the Zune on the deck in the sun and hope, maybe it would dry and work again.

Later that morning while talking to a friend on the phone, she asked, "Why do you seem dismayed?" I explained my dilemma about washing the Zune. She suggested I put it into a plastic baggy with rice. She had heard of people doing that with their cell phones after jumping into pools with them in their pockets. Ok! What do I have to lose?

Placed it into a baggy with rice, and for extra care placed that into a airtight container. We left it on the counter for almost 3 days. Yesterday morning Haley tested it, and IT WORKS!! I was and am stoked.

So, note to self: check pockets of clothing, especially the kids, no more being the rebellious teen.

And for all of you out there, I hope you never need this cool little trick, but now you have it in your arsenal of motherhood fixes.

How do I spend my time?

I'm sure I've mentioned it before, we live out in the middle of no where. This was, I realize by choice, so I can't complain.

A disadvantage to living so rural is there isn't high speed internet readily available, nor scheduled to be in the near future, through the phone lines. As a result we have to get it through satellite and pay handsomely for it. Even more of a hassle the internet satellite company has structured their plans so the less you pay the less you are allowed to download in a 24 hour period!! (I'm not giving you the name of the company, because if I do I may really go off on a rant. Have never been happy with them.) To top it all off they get you into a contract for 2 years!!!

When we moved here, almost 2 years ago, we found the expense justifiable. The kids need it for school. We can continue to do our home banking. The adjustment to living in the boonies won't be as drastic. The cost of gas to drive all the way to town for free wi-fi wasn't really an option.

As a result we have settled in quite nicely to our routine. Using the internet and paying the bill. However, recently Mike and I have realized we are ALL spending too much time "staying connected". Both computers stay on the kitchen table all day connected to the internet. My computer even gives a little alert signal when email comes into my box!! I'm quick to sit and send off a reply.

We have 4 months left on our contract with the satellite company, but I've reduced our plan significantly. Download amount has been cut drastically. But, this is all for the best! We have set up an hour limit per day for each of us. 30 minutes at a time or however you want to break up your time. The hour rule is more to get us realizing the time we spend using the internet, and hopefully break our poor habits. We have also started shutting the computers down in between, so the temptation isn't there.

It is amazing how after just a couple days of this new routine to realize what a BIG part of MY day I spent just reading and replying to email or reading things on Facebook! I'm disgusted with myself!

This is a positive for all of us, and I'm pleased that Mike and I are setting the example for our kids and correcting the problem. Will keep you posted.... well if I allow enough time for it...

Running on Empty

This will be really quick I only have 5 minutes left. No not on my laptop battery. But, on the time I'm allowing myself to be on the computer. I'll tell you more about it when I have time, but Mike and I are trying a new routine that limits the about of time we each spend on the computer during the day. Soooo it may take me a while to get into a new routine of reading blogs, emails and etc. and still have time to write a blog... This will just take a little practice... talk to you more later about it... until then have a great Friday everyone!

Small Successes

It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that.

My small successes this week were:

1. Was able to hang every load of laundry this week except for 3 (2 were towels which I don't hang). Not sure if this is saving me any money on the electric, but I have to imagine it helps.
2. Out of the past 7 days I've gotten up and walked 5 of them! My motivation for walking in the morning again is for the endorphins it creates. I truly need them, especially this week as we approach the 1st anniversary of my father's death. But, hopefully it is helping me get healthier too.
3. This last one I'm torn on considering it a success. Mike and I met with the guidance counselor at the public high school, Jacob is seriously contemplating going this year which will be his sophomore year. We have home schooled him since 4th grade and he has always been happy doing that. However, this year is different I guess. We have still yet to decide if he will be going, but I'm considering this a success this week overall. Because if I'm doing what is necessary to support one of my kids in their decisions that is a success. (I'm sure I will be blogging more about this HUGE decision we are facing later.)

On the Needles

Wanted to show you what I have on my knitting needles now:

Made with Louet Riverstone in Hunter Green. (Sorry Mike decided the color would look better on me!)

Hope that will turn into this:

Some basic rib socks:

Falling crazy in love with this Nichole yarn. Started a pair of socks with a pattern, but frogged them because the pattern was lost in the wonderful colorway of the yarn.

Changing It for the Better

I'm a creature of habit, I love a routine! Doesn't everyone? Everything in its place and predictable. Ah pure heaven to my A type personality. However, sometimes I think it is good to challenge one's self and change it up a bit!

Last July when we returned from Massachusetts after my father's funeral, my wonderful husband encouraged me to start walking in the morning. On the days he was home he would even join me. Lord knows I truly needed the endorphins and that was the reason for Mike suggesting it. I continued on that routine right through to Thanksgiving too. Then when the cold began lasting until later in the morning my routine was broken and the walk was dropped.

Now that summer is in full swing here in Virginia, and the anniversary of Dad's death is fast approaching, again my wonderful husband has been encouraging me to add my walk back into the routine. It takes some courage to change my routine, especially when I'm adding exercise to it, but I did begin on Saturday. I must say, it is feeling pretty good. Most likely it's the endorphins talking, but I'm going to continue.

My Father

This is my first Father's Day with my dad in heaven. Allow me to share a few thoughts I had of him today and what I would say to him if given the chance.

Dad,

• thank you for your faith in God and sharing it with your children and grandchildren,
• I loved the way you could make just about anyone your friend,
• I will always think about the way you'd smiled at mom (with a glint in your eye) when you thought no one was looking,
• your talent for emceeing and singing were unprecedented,
• you were strict when I was growing up, but now I know how right you were,
• I'm thankful for the way you always provided for us as a family without ever once letting anyone know how difficult it could be some times,
• I still have the memories of your big hands and the feeling they gave me when you would reprimand me when necessary or stroke my head or my arm when I needed reassurance,
• there are too many things to tell you that I miss about you, but let me tell you one of silly things, your beautiful handwriting in the annual birthday and Christmas cards.

So dad, last Father's Day you began to share with us the pain you were in with the cancer taking over your body, that memory is slowly beginning to fade for me. Instead I have the 41 years of my life, with you in it, to focus on and to thank God for.

Rest in peace daddy!

9/13/32 - 6/28/09

Friday Morning Ramblings

It is now 6:35 am, the air is so cool (nice break from the heat), so we have the windows open. I woke about 4:30 this morning and couldn't get back to sleep. After falling asleep about 11:30 pm I'm sure to need a nap later this afternoon. Mike gets up at 5:30 and leaves at 6:00 so I got up with him. RARE but very nice!

I've done all there is to do on the internet so I've decided to go ahead and blog a bit. So many things running through my head that I can't find any peace inside my mind. It is nice to have the birds singing and the sun just peaking over the mountains, thank you Lord for those peaceful pleasures.

Am I the only one who allows their mind to control them so? Is it a mom thing? or genetic?

Think I will go lay in bed while everyone is still asleep and say the rosary... thanks for listening...

Not the Time or the Place

It is because of brave women and men that enlist in the service everyday that gives her the freedom to " show students in a democracy how to exercise dissent". Maybe the parents should exercise their rights and demand her resignation!!

Thank God I Have You

Back in the day when my mom stayed at home, I can recall her sharing coffee with a neighbor who was also at home with her kids. Today being a SAHM isn't very common. Add to that where we live... out in the wilderness... having coffee with anther SAHM just isn't in the cards.

I have however been blessed to find other SAHM, who home school, knit, and even some are Catholic that are bloggers like me. Well they are really good at blogging, me I kind of just ramble thoughts out as I type.

It has become almost a ritual for me in the morning. At least the mornings I have no where to be. Turn on the computer, head outside to feed and water the chickens, come in and fix myself a cup of coffee or tea, make Faith and I some breakfast and log on to the computer. Check email, see if there are any new messages from friends and family on Facebook and open my friends blogs and start reading. They even read my blog and often leave me a comment.

Thank you God for blessing me with some really wonderful women out there, such as: Wool and Chocolate, Become What You Are, Mama Midwife and Aussie Coffee Shop.

Photos of Finished Knitting Projects

I'm sure I've mentioned the finished crocheted afghan I've made for my niece who is getting married in August, but had neglected photos, here it is:

Also another pair of socks have been put away in my sock drawer:

Have 2 more projects I'm knitting on that I will have to share soon... for now I have laundry to hang on the line and a family to care for, knitting will have to keep : (

Living Off the Land - Praise God

It wasn't my goal when preparing dinner, that it consist only of that which had been harvested from our yard, but it worked out that way and aren't I proud!!

Venison steaks on the grill that Mike and Jake had hunted...

Summer and zucchini squash from our garden...

Green beans from our garden...

And macaroni and cheese topped with tomatoes from our garden.

We are truly blessed! Thank you Lord for all you've given us!

Small Successes

I realize I don't participate in Small Successes every week, but I try to when I feel I've actually been successful at something. Some weeks I don't feel I've done anything of importance to even mention, maybe this week I will try to be more attentive to the everyday and see if I can participate 2 weeks in a row.

1. School is essentially finished for this year. Jacob and Haley still need to do math, but that was only because we took them both back to redo some lessons they were each struggling with. In a crazy way that is a definite success!!

2. Finished the afghan I was making for my nieces wedding gift. Well except for figuring out how I want to do the border. It is crocheted the way the pattern says, but I'm not happy with it and will most likely rip it out and redo it.

3. The exhaust system on my 11 yo car was getting really noisy and that is now fixed. AND the true success here is that I didn't lose my mind through the process!! I don't always handle life's every day hurdles such as this with grace, but I did. Mostly because my wonderful husband held my hand the entire time.

Trust in God

My hard working husband has had elbows that look like this for some time:

They had never caused him a lot of pain. Only when bumped.

Several years ago a doctor diagnosed him with bone spurs. Not an uncommon ailment. We knew the only way to correct it however was surgery. The only problem would be that he needed to schedule his vacation for the time of the surgery because he is our sole provider and we really can't manage without his income for any length of time. With his elbows never being painful and him always being able to continue working with them vacation was always spent for other reasons and he never had the surgery.

Last month the pain he was in with the left elbow became unbearable and constant. He made an appointment and met with an orthopedic surgeon a few weeks ago to find out what had changed. The doctor discovered the left elbow bone spur actually was cracked. Thus, surgery can not be put off any longer!!

Now we prepare for his vacation to co-ordinate with his surgery and get ourselves prepared financially to handle him being out of work for longer than 2 weeks in case the healing doesn't go as planned.

I'm praying hard and trusting in God!! But I must admit that this is a lot harder for my human flawed self to do than I care to say.

The other morning I had a dream my father was riding in a car with me while I drove and he was holding my hand. He didn't speak, but I saw his hand and his face and knew he was there. Do you think this may be God's way of letting me know He's hearing my prayers? And I need to just trust?

A Knitter Prepares

I'll put pictures up of the (nearly) finished socks when they are done and the (nearly) finished afghan when it is complete. The socks I only have a toe to sew and the afghan I just need to finish the border.

So yesterday I spent time preparing for the next projects. I bought this pattern: (for me again!)

And wound this yarn to make it: Louet in Hunter Green

There always has to be a pair of socks in the making, because they travel so well, so I wound some Hand Painted Nichole, the color is Vanessa Bell. Still debating what pattern the socks will be, but isn't it poetic when this:

goes onto this:

and becomes this tidy little ball of this?

Oh the potential... It could bring a knitter to tears....

Starting to Harvest

We are starting to harvest some really great stuff from the garden. Lettuce, radishes, peas, cherry tomatoes, and very soon green beans!

Pictures taken with Mike's cell phone so forgive the quality, but you get the idea!

Score!

For the summer Jacob's piano lesson is on Tuesdays. So, this will be the day I try to do any errands in the city while I'm there.

Yesterday, while Jacob was in his lesson it was just too hot to sit in the car and knit like I normally would, so I ventured to the university's book store. (Barnes & Noble) I wandered around browsing and look at this bargain I came across:

Although I don't have kids the ages for the patterns in the book how could I resist a knitting book for only $1.00? No that is not a typo I got it right $1.00! Score!!

Here are just some of the designs that are in the book. I'll just continue to peruse it until maybe a niece or two has a baby for me to knit for...

A Boy's Own Jacket

Kaleidoscope Throw

Outdoor Snuggle

Great Weekend

Great weekend was had with our visitor, tough to let him go this morning, but the world must keep turning.

Here is some of the food I prepared this weekend, because every good visit with friends or family has to include good food!