I Love This Soap!!!

I have been SO bad today.  I broke down and washed two loads of laundry . . . all in the interest of providing for "my readers" . . .  sorry, I know . .  pretty gaggy . . . .  I really am  so pleased with the results!  Check my other blog for the before and after pictures! 

"CHEEP" Laundry soap

I made the homemade laundry soap and tried it out.  Check it out on my other blog  ... click HERE  !

I Love My Grown Kids!

Today, Sarah took pity on me and came up to help me get over some hurdles.  We got the back of the house power washed and then bottled 21 quarts of apples.  When I whipped out the camera she asked me if I was going to blog this . .  there she goes, asking me that silly question!

Sarah getting the last bottle filled.  Pinching pennies . . .  steaming the peels and cores so that I can make apple butter . . . yum! 

The Verdict is In . . . You Really Can Read Through It!

Every time we have had a new baby come into the family, I have marveled at how thin the toilet paper is at the hospital.  There I was in Michael's the other day, and what do you know, they had the same kind of TP!  I just couldn't resist . . . and sure enough, you can read through it!

Hey, I know lame, but some of us just don't seem to have much of a life!?!?!? 

Grad Nite . . . . Looking Back

For the last few years, Mariah and I have gone and volunteered at the Mountain View High School's Grad Night.  It's usually lots of fun, once we get there.  Both of us would probably just stay at home all the time if we could, but that isn't what we are here on the earth for, is it?  Life is what you make of it, especially for others, so off we go!  

The theme was kind of a Aladdin/Moroccan type with lots of glitz.  As you walk in, it just seems to pull you in and get you in the mood for a fun night.   The kids have to show up by midnight or their parents are called and they can’t leave without parents involvement.  It would be nice if more schools would do this.  It does seem to help kids have a good time celebrating without the danger that takes graduates each year.

 In the past we have gone down at midnight and worked until 3 or 4 in the morning.  That is NOT my best time to be functional, so this year we help with the first, sit-down dinner that they served right after the graduation.  They did a great job setting the mood in the cafeteria, had lots of help, so when the kids starting to show up, all was ready to start serving.  The food came from Famous Dave’s BBQ.  I have been told repeatedly that I should drag Jon over there, but never could manage it for one reason or another.  It is good food!  Since I had a gimpy wrist, they had me fill plates to make sure that I didn’t drop a plate down someone’s neck or in their lap.  That gave me the chance to visit with Kim O.  It has been a long time since we had much time to visit so that was fun catching up on all the news.  She is the cutest lady and just never changes . . . but you still gotta love her.  Such a nice one to be around!

Clean up was fast, once again, with lots of help and then we were on our way home!

1.  Dorothy, Amy and Stephanie setting up for the dinner . . .  and we actually got it done in time!!   2.  Ready for serving.  3.  Mariah, Reiko, and Marsha all ready to serve up nachos, ice cream and who knows what else.  This is where Mariah, Staci, Wendy, and I spent our time last year, in the middle of the night.

1.  A little way to work off that big dinner since food is served ALL night long!  2.  The path to all the fun in the gym.  3.  A little treasure from Aladdin's Cave.

These have absolutely nothing to do with Grad Nite.  I just got a kick out of seeing that some of the thousands of flags I have sewn or repaired have not been tossed, but used to decorate the cafeteria.  They actually looked pretty net up there!

In the Gutter!

Jon & I are "empty nesters".  Fortunately, that doesn't mean what we thought it would and would have meant if we had taken the job up in Kalispell, MT.  We have little boys, some times little girls and even big boys and big girls traipsing through occasionally.  This weekend, Rob came over and help us, really mainly Jon, to put our rain gutters up.  Rob & I did most of the painting, then he and Jon had the real fun learning experience installing while I went and played wedding set up with Nancy Hays.  I definitely had the better end of that deal!

It's only been 16 or so years that we have been saying, "we should put up rain gutters, shouldn't 

we?"  Hopefully, it won't take as long to finish the job as it did to get the tree out of here!

1.  Cute Jon, he said that I don't have to blog everything.  Guess this is way more exciting to me that it is to him  . . .  and  it is good to remember the times that father and son worked together.  That is, perhaps, more important than when they play together.  2.  It took two years to decide on the color, what do you think?  I had to get  a bunch to do all the way around the house.  Then,I  decided to have the 20 gallons for the main part of the house tinted that night, Friday, so that I can't second guess any more.  It's a shade of off-white.  

I get so tired of "playing it safe"  I did that in the kitchen, couldn't take it.  Then, I went a little wild and held my breath to see if I could live with it after a few weeks.  First try, I just couldn't then tried ONE more time, and still like it!  Thanks to this method, I have between 10 and 12 coats of paint on one of my dining room walls.  Jon calls it our "color of the week phase".  He would come in the front door, look around the corner of the kitchen take a peek and bust out laughing. 

Back to the house, there will be another, lighter shade of the green on the replacement of that nasty old wood trim and some other trim that is going to be added.  I love craftsman houses and Stephen is trying to help me create that "feel" as much as we can, without making some thing too weird.  When he sounds like I worry about it too much, I remind him that some day they will have to unload this place and why make it too hard . . . other than with paint colors.  

If I can find composite material to replace that  wood mess, I will happily pay, we maybe not happily, but I will live on beans to use it . . . Oh,  I already am living on beans, kind of . . . maybe I will walk every where, to pay for it.  HA!  The point is, when I get this done, I don't want to have to worry about it, EVER, again!!  Just a guess, Jon concurs.  Poor guy has some pretty mixed feelings about weekends these days.  Work around the house just doesn't mean the same to him as it does most of us gals.   Men are from Mars, women are from Venus!

HELP! summer is Here!

If any of you are feeling this way, checkout the website:  familyfun.com.  Saw the magazine in the dental office and was quite impressed.  Just checked out their website and now I am even more impressed!  Make this a summer to remember . .  on the cheap!!

Mighty Battle . . . Who will Win the War?

I saw a few aphids a couple of days ago and decided to go to war.  

I armed myself with the spray bottle filled with my lethal soap solution.

  

Mounted the platform/artillery/wooden and opened squirt on the invaders.  

When I discovered that some of them were attacking "undercover", I dropped to my knees to the armor/knee/portable/foam and renewed my pre-emptive (Jon says that means  get them before they get me . .  but he isn't sure how to spell it) attack.

Next, I sent my scouts (eyes) to the broccoli row . .  and they reported that I wasn't done yet!  Quick . .  reload . . .  Squirt! 

Before the battle, Jon helped me in the back yard.  He gathered up the rest of the large cinder blocks and moved them into place so that when I get the doo-hicky off my wrist, I won't have to over stress it moving that heavy stuff. I will be able to tip the blocks and level under them with no problem, by next Monday.  Yes I can . .  my wrist will be better . .  and that's an order!

It's gonna be really fun !  I can hardly wait to level, fill and plant it!!!  Long time dream coming true . . .  another funny story . . .  poor Jon, he has given me so much to tease him about.

I've Been Challenged!

Years ago when I was driving Jon NUTS while living on the farm, he began questioning me if he could support my "farming" habits much longer.  I got a burr under my saddle!  The prophets has always counseled us to garden and be as self sufficient as possible.  It takes time, effort, consistency, and yes, being a little bit nuts helps. 

  

That year, I decided to see if gardening was still a losing proposition.  I weighed everything that I picked.  I brought in over three hundred pounds of tomatoes, corn, okra, green beans, peas, broccoli and I don't remember what else we had growing that year.  I finally told Jon how much we had produced, everything was coming off like crazy, I was having trouble keeping up with it, so I wasn't going to weigh any more, the garden was more than paid for!  i don't know how much we produced in the long run, but this was one tired out mama by the time the season was over.  I was shocked when I realized that I was tempted to pray for the first heavy frost so that I could stop canning.  When school started and all the teachers didn't have much time, they started to

 call me a offer what was left in their gardens so that it wouldn't go to waste.  That was the year that we had two pints of veggies a day for 9 months for our family.  I sure wish I h

ad pictures of my shelves,  it was a true work of art.

Anyway, one of my children told me  yesterday that you don't save any money growing a garden, with the water, blah, blah, blah.  Efficient drip system, etc. didn't make a difference in the opinion.  Working the soil, improving it, blah, blah, blah . .  it just won't make any difference.  So-o-o-o, I am going to track every lousy dime I spend on my gardening, figure as closely as I can what I have spent so far.  Keep a ledger on ALL of it.  Even the time will be tracked . . . time is money!  I will prove her wrong if it kills me!

So, here is what I found this morning while I was out hand pollinating my squash.  Can you

 believe that ?  I just can't fail at growing zucchini . .  come on, it is a weed, according

 to most people.  I want to have so many that every one has to lock their cars in the church parking lot, to guard against my "generosity"!

1.  Yellow squash, not my favorite, but hey, time for a challenge, and if I still am not crazy about it, I can pass them on to Sarah!  2.  Regular tomatoes, not just the cherry!  3.  Poor old grow boxes on hold till I can use both hands, or until Jon can do the lifting . . . one hand just won't lift those boogers!  Some times I miss the grip I had when I milked goats!

1.  The first yellow bell pepper  2.  The red bell pepper has a little sister.  3.  Yippee!  zucchini!  Really!

The Name No Concert Should Have

1.  It took me back when I saw the name on the program.  It made me feel pretty sad.  That was when it me that, "No Concert should be named that".  2.  Brianna explained that the kids had picked the numbers that they were singing that night.  They did a good job picking.  They had even had worked up special number on the sly, to surprise Brianna.  When they were ready to sing the last song, right after the surprise number, Brianna said that she was glad that she was glad that she didn't have to sing it!  It was pretty emotional for many of them.  3.  When the all men's group sang, Gabriel stopped all wiggling and sat frozen to his spot until the song ended.  Good job teaching the little ones, kids!!!

1.  Arianna can be a little bit of a tomboy, but make no mistake, she is ALL girl.  She wanted to make sure that I saw her "do" and got a pic of it!  I never could get a shot of Tati's hair, it was cute too.  I don't know how Bri gets all her running around between school and the concert and does hair on four girls besides.  Speaking of do's . .  like Rob's buzz?  Such a waste of his hair! Guess we will all have to get used to it soon enough.   2.  I had to sneak up to the front to get a pic of Brianna leading the kids . .  . I love what everyone does with their hands . . . a little thing of mine these days . . . another post.   3.  Lucky Sabrina.  She was completing the 12th year of accompanying Sabino choirs.  If she had been on my side of the church, I might have been caught sneaking up behind her to get a shot of her hands playing the piano.  Don't think she would have appreciated it, though.  But think of all the service she has done this way over the years, at home, schools, church, teaching lessons.  That would be  a story ! .  .  . hint, hint?   

The kids were really good . . . but time does drag on for them all after awhile.  Thank goodness for little distractions like Lincoln!  Arianna has quite the little routine ;-) The last photo is our little doodle bug, Tati, demonstrating mom's best friend, tights!

These three pictures are of the last song.  It was obvious that the kids knew it was the last that they would sing together, since the choir program has been cut by those in position to make the decision.  But is it really?  Judging from the spirit they showed Friday night, it isn't.  I could just feel the "You can cut the program, but you won't cut us!" attitude in the room.  It was inspiring to experience.  The first pic is the end of the song.  The rest took place in a matter of seconds . . . as the song ended.  It was wonderful to witness!  These youngsters are the hope of the future.  They will make sure that there will still be some of the finer experiences for all of us to enjoy . .  to surround us . . . beautiful inspirations in the world in the years to come.  They will use their talents to help the next generation find theirs.

1.  Gabriel loves to let everyone know that, "That is my Aunt Brianna  and this is my Uncle Rob!"  2.  We have learned to just stand back and wait after the concerts, there will be SRO around Brianna for some time.  (The big fuzzy headed guy in the dark blue shirt would be Rob sporting his Army buzz.)  We have learned to appreciate these young people who have taught the next generation by their example. 3.  And then just some of the tears that were shed that night.

1.  This is Brianna, her younger sister Shantell, and mother, Sabrina.  Sabrina has been accompanying the Sabino High Choirs for years.  A wonderful service that has help teach many youth.    2.  Just some of the many tears shed that night.  3.  And then there was Bri's music sitting on the stand.  Seeing it there, reminded me of a finished book, laid aside, now that we know how the story ends.

Off to the Boonies, a Little Bit of Paradise!

After a late night, Jon coming home from work and me coming home from the concert, we had to get up very early to get off for St. David to join the University Ward kids on their camp out.  When Jon & I arrived in St. David, we found some very sleepy girls all over the grass,

 and trampoline.  They were pretty good sports about me taking their pictures so early in the morning  . . .  or at least the ones that knew what I was doing it were?!?!?

When we got out to the pond, we found the guys in the same shape as the girls . . . sleepy!  Good ole Bro. Huish unknowingly spoiled a joke on the guys on the island.  He was shuttling them over to the shore with all their stuff.  The guys on the shore had snuck over during the night and taken their boats to leave them stranded.  Oh well, that's my honey . . . Mr. Nice Guy!

Kelly & Kelsey really know their business in the "kitchen".  It was unanimous, breakfast was great!

Maggie coming from a cruise . . . Kisa and Daniel chillin'  . . . Abby and Jamie paddling away!

The girls tried to stay dry, and did for a little while anyway . .  naughty boys!  A "Rockwell" moment and the "Three Amigos".

Sarah didn't know there would be swimming . . . so she changed into a frump for the occasion . . . and then came the "Slime Brothers".  May I say . . .  e-e-e-w-w-w-!

Tom asked for this shot, it looks cool, like a firing squad. . . . anyone got a dust rag?  Saying good-bye to a little bit of paradise