Time Change/Battery Change

We changed back to regular time yesterday. I've heard to change your batteries in your smoke alarm when the time changes. So this morning, we checked the smoke alarm. It didn't have a battery in it! We had the right battery, so it now has a battery in it. I'm glad I remembered to check it! Having a working smoke alarm is important!

Bonfire!

Tonight we went to a bonfire after church. A couple in our church has it every year at their home, and invites all the people from church over.

We were supposed to bring hotdogs, buns, and a snack. I was going to make cookies or something, but I got distracted this afternoon and cleaned off the desk and did a lot of filing, so I forgot about it. But I did take hotdogs and buns!

We had a really nice time, and stayed later than we thought we were going to stay. I talked to a lady for quite a while, and was really enjoying the conversation, when Kevin came to tell me it was time to go. So *sniff* I said good bye. :)

Now that we're home, and away from the fire, my clothes don't smell too good. The smoky smell at a bonfire isn't bothersome, but once you're away from it, the lingering smell on your hair and clothes doesn't smell too good.

Bonfires are fun. :) It's the only time people want to eat burnt food! haha

20 Things About Me Tag

Here are the rules: Write 20 random facts about yourself then tag the same amount of people as minutes it takes you to write the facts.

I haven't been "officially" tagged, but since both Holly and Rebecca have done it, I figured I might as well too. =)

1. I got a flute from my parents as a high school graduation present. Yes, I can play it. No, I haven't played it for a long time!
2. I have taken typing tests and gotten up to 90 wpm. If I'm going for accuracy, I need to slow down to about 65-75 wpm.
3. I wear size 7 1/2 shoes.
4. Last winter I learned that 30 degrees can feel warm! This discovery was made after a week of below 0 weather.
5. Kevin proposed to me on a ferry which was crossing the Puget Sound. I wasn't expecting it, because I thought he hadn't asked my dad :) .
6. I'm turning 29 in a few days.
7. My glasses are the first thing I find in the morning. I don't get out of bed till they are on.
8. I love to read.
9. Kevin and I met at my church. My pastor introduced me by saying I was a crazy driver.
10. I'm not a crazy driver. =)
11. I taught school for one year at a small Christian school (2003/04 school year).
12. My all-time favorite movie is The Shop Around the Corner, starring Jimmy Stewart.
13. I'm 5 feet and 1/2 inch tall. That 1/2 inch is important. ;)
14. I like to write with blue ink the best. Black will do if it's the only thing around.
15. People always say I look young, usually they say 13 years old. I think I've grown up a little--the picture in this post is me on my 13th birthday. But then, when I was 13, people thought I was 6 or 7. Everyone says I'll appreciate it when I'm older. Huh, I'm tired of people thinking I look like a kid!
16. My first ever trip to the emergency room was last month, for my finger slicing event. I'll stay out of the emergency room from now on, thank you. It's not a fun place to wait.
17. The first baseball game I ever watched was with Kevin, after we were married. He had to explain everything to me. (I never cared about sports at all--and having 7 sisters who didn't either, I knew nothing about most sports!)
18. I love Boyds bears.
19. I decorate my kitchen in apples.
20. I don't care to paint, especially cupboards!

If you're reading this, and you have a blog, consider yourself tagged! :) I didn't pay attention to how long it took me to do this. Besides, it took a while, so I doubt I know enough bloggers to tag.

My Busy Day

I knew that today was going to be busy....I had an appointment at 9 and another one at 2.

The morning appointment was an interview at a temp agency. The office was very busy (which is a good thing!), and when I arrived home, I had a message from the lady who interviewed me saying there was a part time position that had just come in! I don't know if I'll get the position or not, but it's encouraging to have the possibility!

After my interview, I went next door to a thrift store that I had noticed when I pulled in the parking lot. It was a big store, and run by a local mission. I have to say that even in the midst of old clothes and furniture, I saw a Christian testimony. This thrift store is the cleanest, nicest thrift store I've ever been in, and it didn't smell! Thrift stores are usually so stinky. They had free coffee and hot chocolate in the back, and free pamphlets on salvation at the register. I was really impressed. While there, I got a set of brass candlesticks, a Rudy Atwood record, and a flannel shirt. I need to get some brass cleaner for the candlesticks. I have the perfect spot for them.

Then I stopped by the grocery store and got chicken breasts. They were $1.49 a lb. (boneless, skinless). I got $20 worth.

Home again, home again, jiggedy jog--for a short time to heat up my soup and have lunch. I jumped on the computer and said a quick "hi" to my sister and sister-in-law. (That's called multi-tasking. *grin*)

My 2 o'clock appointment was for an "orientation" at another temp agency, for a job assignment I'll be doing next week. I'll be doing registration at a woodworking convention. I know it's going to be a lot of work, but I'm looking forward to it anyhow. I've done registering at conventions in the past, and have always enjoyed it.

And then, I went by my regular grocery store, and picked up the rest of my groceries. Afterwards , I went to the fabric store to see if they had a particular fabric I've been looking for. They didn't. So I came home. And crashed. All that running around is wearisome!

A Cleaning I go...

In just a little bit, I'm heading out the door to go clean a house. The house I'm cleaning belongs to co-workers at Kevin's job. I started two weeks ago, and clean every other week.

Last week it took me five hours to clean, and I hope that it takes way less time this week! We shall see!

Memories

I'm not sure exactly what is being done, but our road is getting torn up. Well, not technically "torn up" because the workmen have cut huge circles out of the black top, so there is reason to what looks like a mess!


It reminded me of my honeymoon. Kevin and I stayed in a cottage near the ocean (someone in my church let us use it rent-free!). We woke up the first morning to "beep-beep-beep"--the sound, we thought, of the garbage truck. However, after hearing this beeping sound for quite a while, we went and looked out the front window. It wasn't a garbage truck! It was a work crew tearing out the road!

We could have gotten out with our car, I'm sure, but it would have been quite a hassle. Instead, we chose to walk down to the beach. From there we walked into the town, and did some window shopping and got lunch. We had a nice day together.

The next morning, we were getting ready to leave, and they hit a water main. That was pretty funny, especially since the water was spurting across the street, and not into our yard. The work crew made it possible for us to get out with our car. In our honeymoon scrapbook, I have two pictures of this torn up road, and the water spurting all over the place.

Isn't it funny how things like this can turn into good memories? Kevin and I still laugh and talk about it today!

My Pretty Flowers

A week ago last Friday, Kevin came home with some beautiful flowers for me! I've enjoyed them so much over the last week and a half. Isn't my hubby sweet? :)

My kitchen curtains

Last Saturday, I finally finished my kitchen curtains. Actually, the valance is all that needed to be changed; the curtains have been finished for quite a while.

The valance I made was not wide enough, and didn't have any gathers in it. I bought extra fabric and extended the valance. It's nice and full now!

Before:

After:



The curtains are actually a pair of pillowcases that were trimmed with lace. I have never used them, and I found them when I was looking through a stack of linens and curtains. They were the perfect length. All I had to do was open them up, sew the side hems, and hem the top. I sewed rings along the top, which makes the curtains easy to open and shut.

A Lesson in Hospitality

An older couple in our church invited us over to their house for lunch today. It was a very nice meal, and a delightful time of fellowship. They had also invited another couple as well as us.

The meal was very good. When I have company, I can never think of what to make, and usually end up making a main dish, vegetables, rolls, and maybe dessert--if I'm in the mood to make dessert. :) But she had really outdone herself--baked chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, a vegetable dish, rolls, cranberry salad, and a jello salad. It was all delicious! For dessert, she made carrot cake, and put two slivers of raw carrots on the top. It looked really cute!

Since Kevin and I have been in our new church, we've been in three people's homes for dinner, and when Kevin had a class one evening, I was invited over to one of the ladies' houses for dinner. Having people over is almost rare these days, and it has indeed been rare for us to be invited over to someone's home, but this church has proved itself to be very friendly and hospitable!

Little Miss Muffet

Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet,
Eating her curds and whey.
There came a big spider,
Who sat down beside her.
And frightened Miss Muffet away!

I feel sorry for our neighbors across the street! They were attacked by a huge spider, and their yard is a mess--spider webs all over the place! I sure hope the spider doesn't come across the street to our house!

Further down the street, a neighbor was attacked by a spider that spins purple webs. Again, I hope that spider doesn't come to our house!

Spiders and spiderwebs are popping up all over the city. You'd think that people would clean up the webs. After all, 11 months out of the year we kill spiders and sweep the webs away.

What is it about October that makes people leave those nasty webs alone? Since 1805 people have been reading "Little Miss Muffet" and have been running from spiders just as poor Miss Muffet. Why not now? Why not in October?

Ahhhh, I have a strong dislike for Halloween decorations. I know in fact, that the "spider" who spun the webs will not be spinning them around my house! I'll enjoy my pretty fall decorations and leave the ugliness of Halloween alone. I've never understood Halloween decorations--and these days they are getting bigger and more expensive. For only $100 one can get a huge blowup yard decoration in the shape of a cat (that would deflate in a hurry when a *real* cat clawed at it!). What is the purpose for having a huge black cat in your front yard? (Aren't black cats supposed to be bad luck???) When I was a kid, one house on a block might be decorated. Now it's every other house that is decorated. What is the attraction to spending money to decorate for this holiday? I don't get it.

Oh well. I'm done ranting now! :)

Dishes at 10:30

I really, really procrastinate on my dishes. However, since I don't like getting up to a sinkful and counterful of dishes, I do make sure that they are done before I go to bed. The results of such resolution are that I'm up doing dishes at 10:30 p.m. most nights. I don't like doing them at that time (well, I don't like doing them any time!), but at least they get done before the day is over.

Oh, sigh...I just finished my dishes. Someone needs to stop procrastinating. (Hint...that's me!) =)

Winter Squash

I'm really enjoying winter squash this fall. It is such a good-for-you food, as well as very tasty. A friend told me she eats it raw, so I thought I'd try it, but my little taste ended up in the sink. =)

I just cut it up and steam it, or put it in a dish with some water in the oven (if I have something else baking). Last night, I cut up a squash and put it in the slow cooker on low, and it was ready for breakfast. What a yummy breakfast!

Squash is also a cheap food. Last Wednesday we stopped at a stand on our way to church and I got five squashes, several bell peppers, and a bag of apples all for $5.20. That's a lot of food!

I haven't tried any recipes yet that use squash. I just like to eat it plain with a little butter. However, I'm thinking of branching out and trying something a little different.

One squash I haven't bought this year is spaghetti squash. That is a fun squash to cook. :) I love trying all kinds of different squashes!

Something a little different

On Sunday afternoon it's nice to come home from church to a waiting meal, but that often doesn't happen, because I don't plan on it. Or if I do plan on it, I get rushed for time, and don't end up getting the meal in the slow cooker.

I recently subscribed to Large Family Logistics, which is a schedule reminder similar to Fly Lady. I'm still "tweaking" it to fit my schedule and cleaning needs. One of the reminders she sends out every week is to get ready for Sunday. One of the things she suggests is to put a meal in the crock pot, and stick it in the refrigerator. In the morning, you just pop it in the cooker, and when you come home from church--a nice hot meal is ready and waiting!

So I did that Saturday evening. One of my favorite cookbooks is Fix it and Forget it, a crock pot cookbook. I've tried lots of different recipes from this cookbook, and most of them have turned out delicious! (I say "most" because there have been a few that went over like a lead balloon! :) )

It worked great, and I know that I will be using this part of the schedule most Sundays.

~~~~~~~~~
On another subject, I'm so happy! My fingers are healed to the point that I can now do my needle crafts. :) Yay!!! My ring finger is still quite sensitive, but I am able to use it a little bit now. For instance, just within the last few days, I started typing with it again. I've been using my pinky finger for all the ring finger letters. Not very easy to do, but my pinky finger adjusted quite nicely. :)

(And if you don't know what I'm talking about, read this post.)

Lazy Saturday

Today is one of those sleep-in Saturdays. We didn't have anything planned for today, so we're not doing anything! Well, actually, Kevin is getting ready to go get an oil pan. He's going to change the oil on his truck. That was planned for today. I do have things I need to get accomplished today, but I haven't started any of them yet. It feels good to have a "lazy day" every once in a great while!

Uh Oh...I've been tagged!

I had to think for this one! Thanks, Susan, for the tag!

5 Things I Plan to Do Before I Die:

1. Become a better Christian
2. Grow a vegetable garden
3. Learn more about gardening
4. Practice my flute, and learn to play it well
5. Memorize more Scripture

5 Things I Can Do:

1. Sew
2. Knit & crochet
3. Cook
4. Put up produce (freeze, can, dry)
5. Teach myself a new craft

5 Things I Can’t Do:

1. Cartwheels (I used to be able to kind of do them)
2. Whistle loud
3. Sing a solo
4. Speak another language
5. Talk on the phone and instant message someone else :)

5 Things That Attracted Me to My Husband:

1. His sense of humor
2. His voice
3. His personality
4. His love for the Lord
5. How he treated me

5 Things I Say the Most:

1. "Obviously"
2. "The thing is"
3. "I love you" (all the time--to my hubby!)

Sorry, I can't think of any others! I'm sure I have things I say all the time, but I can't think of 5 right now!

5 Celebrity Crushes:

Here, I have to honestly say I've never had "crushes" on any celebrity. I didn't grow up with much tv, and it was only after I got married that I started to know celebrity by their names.

Some of my favorites now (can you tell I like old movies?):
1. Jimmy Stewart
2. Cary Grant
3. Irene Dunne
4. Jean Arthur
5. Humphrey Bogart

5 People I’d like to tag:

1. Corene
2. Erin
3. Rebecca
4. Lydia
5. Sarah

Yesterday's Project

Yesterday I made a grapevine wreath. I'm happy with the way it turned out, and I'll have fun decorating it later on. The vines still need to dry out first, since most of them are still a little green. I haven't made a grapevine wreath in years, and making it took me on a little stroll down Memory Lane.

My dad farmed 10 acres of grapes when we first moved to California. I remember running through the fields, spending hours playing outside. We kids also helped a lot out in the fields, doing various tasks for my dad. I say we helped "a lot" but actually, it probably wasn't that much. =)

One of the things we learned to do was make grapevine wreaths. I made several, and my grandparents asked me to make a large wreath for their back porch. It hung out on their back porch for quite a few years.

I got the vines from an interesting source. I belong to my city's Freecycle group, and one of the members posted that she had grapevines she needed rid of. I thought it would be fun to make a wreath, so I responded to the offer. Kevin and I went out to her house on Monday night, and got what I thought was a lot of vines. However, by the time I got done with my wreath, I had used them all.

I'll post a picture of the wreath after I get it decorated...which may be a while. =)

Standing in the Corner

Yes, that's me! Standing in the corner--but I promise I haven't been naughty, not one little bit! It's a special corner--just one corner in my living room, that I like to stand in, and only at specific times. You see, there is a heater vent in that corner, and I stand over it when the heat comes on. It sure warms me up! =)

Last Wednesday I talked about our hot fall weather. The next day the thermometer dropped from 85 to 55. Brrrrr...It's been in the 50's during the day, and the high 30's during the night. I was expecting a little more of a transition! Oh well!

The part of fall I am enjoying is the leaves that are turning. Fall is a colorful time of year!

Prepositions and Insulation

When I was learning prepositions in school, my dad would tell me, "A preposition is anything an airplane can do to a cloud."

Well, I have a new one! "A preposition is anything insulation and a blower can do in a bathroom."

We knew we needed insulation in our attic when we bought our house. Kevin went to Home Depot today and bought 20 bales of blow-in insulation. With the purchase of the insulation, we got the blower rental free.

We have steps going up to the attic, but part of the roof structure comes over the staircase, so there wasn't room to get the blower up to the attic. *sigh* Since we have a vent in the bathroom up to the attic, the hose from the blower was able to go up the vent.

So...back to our prepositions. Let's see...

Over the shower curtain
Through my mask
Up my nose
On the walls
In the toilet
Under the door

Basically, all over the whole bathroom! What a mess!!!

However, I'm thankful for the insulation in our attic. Hopefully it will help our gas bill this winter!

Something silly

My sister Holly sent this in an e-mail to me, when I had been married just a few months. I wonder if she'll even remember it? I was looking through my files on the computer, cleaning things up a bit, and came across it.

The following "touching story" is just part of the e-mail she sent me. The whole e-mail was making fun of all the e-mails that crowd our inbox--all those ridiculous forwards that everyone feels inclined to pass on.

The Bible says, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine." (Proverbs 17:22) Laugh a little today! The Bible says it's good for you!!!

Now here is a really TOUCHING story that will really brighten your day!


It was a really difficult day for me. The children were cranky, and I really didn't want to go out to do my shopping, but there wasn't anything in the fridge so I had to go. All the way to the grocery store I felt like I was just so alone. I had just moved to the town that I was living in and hadn't made any friends yet. My husband was working long hours and every time we were together, he would only talk about his work. I just felt like nobody loved me. Well, when I got to the store, I went to get a cart and a lady pushed me to the side so that she could get her cart first. At first I was upset, but I just figured that I should get my cart and go on. On my way to the produce I passed a cart with a little child in it and the baby reached up and pulled my hair with all his might! I screamed and tried to untangle my hair, as the mother watched, apparently unconcerned with my dilemma. As I reached for a watermelon a blind man went to rap on the melon that I had my hand on and instead of getting the watermelon, smacked my hand as hard as he could! As if that wasn't bad enough, when I handed my money to the clerk she grabbed the money out of my hands so forcefully that my arm was dislocated! Of course I was in pain, but I had to get my groceries out to the car because I had purchased some meat that needed to get home to the fridge. Would you believe it! When I was unlocking the door the bag boy let go of the cart and being that there was a incline the cart came racing toward me, slammed me into my car door. I don't remember much after that. The medics picked me up and took me to a hospital and somewhere in my delirium someone stole my wedding and engagement rings. As I was laying in my hospital bed, with IVs dripping into my arm, I realized how many people had touched my life that day. I started out the day feeling so alone, but in just those few hours so many people gave me a part of themselves. I FELT SO TOUCHED!

Needle Tatting

I got the stitches taken out of my fingers this Monday, but my fingers are still too sensitive to do any hand crafts. I thought I would share my newest craft with you today.

I've always wanted to tat. My dad always said how time-consuming and tedious it was, so that kept me away from it. (I don't believe he ever tried tatting, so I don't know how he arrived at that conclusion.)

I was in Hobby Lobby, and looking through the craft books, and saw a book that taught needle tatting. Instead of using a regular shuttle, you use a long needle to make the knots on, and then you pull it down and create the rings that are common in tatting. I was fascinated, and after a month or so, went back and purchased the book.

I started right in on it, and realized that it wasn't that hard, and it didn't take that much time (it does take time, but it's not too time-consuming.)

Here are some bookmarks that I have made. I got most of the patterns off the internet.

Fall Weather?

This year's weather has been crazy! We had a very hot and humid summer, without much of a spring, and now that it is supposed to be "fall" we thought the weather would cool down. It's still warm!

I distinctly remember last year, as soon as we turned our calendar page to October, it was cold! We used our heat almost every day in October.

I wonder when we're going to get "true" fall weather?

Pumpkins!

Last night before church Kevin and I stopped at a roadside stand. There were pumpkins and squashes galore! I picked out 3 pumpkins for our front porch, some mini-pumpkins to decorate the dining room table with and a pie pumpkin. Mmmmm…I can’t wait to cook that pumpkin. I love pumpkin!

I also got some bell peppers, and two different kinds of winter squash. They had great prices on everything. I’m glad we stopped!

Titus Two Ladies Talk, Part 3

*You don't go into marriage with the philosophy "if it doesn't work, there's always divorce"
*You go into it with the assurance of fulfilling your vow of "til death do us part."
*A most important thing for wives, as well as husbands concerning credit cards is this: Pay as you go. If you can't pay, don't go.
*Hindsight, if possible would be wonderful! If I could only relive the times I should have kept my tongue!
--Florence, widowed after 50 years of marriage

These are the scriptures I think would be so helpful if we could learn to apply them when we are first married, but sometimes seem to take so long to be able to really understand what wonderful "tools' God has given us to have a Christ-like marriage:
*"And [Christ] being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2:8) Jesus "laid aside His rights and humbled Himself"--two of the most difficult things in the world to do, for if you can do this you give up your self-righteousness, pride, and your rights.
*"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." (Galatians 5:14) Of course we can't do these things perfectly, but in Christ we can keep working toward the goal as Paul admonished us. Even as we "press towards the mark" when we practice unconditional love, all the virtues and admonitions found in Ephesians will be attainable: patience, long suffering, gentleness, kindness, forgiveness, holiness, honoring your partner, faithfulness, and faith.
--Bonnie, Married 49 years

This concludes the article. I hope it has blessed you, as it did me! I had the privelege of knowing some of these sweet ladies, and they were what they spoke! I know that since 1998, at least two of these ladies have their husbands waiting in heaven for them.

Titus Two Ladies Talk, Part 2

*If possible, the wife and mother should stay at home and raise the children.
*Don’t show favoritism.
*Do reward your children for their special efforts.
*Don’t forget to be a body busy instead of a busybody in the neighborhood. “And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.” (1 Timothy 5:13)
*Show by your example that following Christ is everything. “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)
—Pat, Married 52 years

*When you marry, you promise before God your commitment is “for better or for worse, in sickness and in health.”
*Never go to bed angry.
*Never quarrel with your husband in front of the children.
*Find time for you and your husband alone.
*Let your children see the love between you.
*Go to church with your children.
*Read the Bible daily.
—Sue, Married 59 years

Titus Two Ladies Talk, Part 1

A few years ago, my mom had a magazine that she published called Encouragement. She published it for several years. The next few days, I’m going to share an article that was in the first issue (November/December 1998) entitled Titus Two Ladies Talk. My mom asked my grandma’s friends to share snippets of advice, and she published them just as they wrote them down. They are such a blessing to read! Such wisdom is imparted through their words!

Titus 2:3-5 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

*Build your marriage on faith and trust in God and in one another.
*Communicate one with another.
*When problems arise, talk them out.
*Love one another
*Let your spouse know you care by the things you do for him
*In our fifty-six years of marriage, we still love each other as in the beginning of our marriage.
—Louise, married 56 years

*Invite the Lord to be a part of your marriage.
*Don’t buy what you can’t pay for, or in better words be sure you can afford what you buy.
*Remember that bickering over small things never pays. It only widens a gap between you.
*Keep your wedding vows and commitments.
*Similar backgrounds have helped our years together.
—Eleanor, Married 62 years

*Make a decision to stay married the rest of your life.
*Put your relationship above everything else.
*Do loving things for your mate.
*Put God first in your life. He is there to help with all problems.
—Neva Naomi, First marriage—55 years (widowed), Second marriage—3 years