The Simple Woman Day Book

For Today~ May 15, 2017

The Simple Woman Day Book

 Out my window... 
Sun, sun, sun!!!

I am thinking...
about how wonderful my Mother's Day Saturday was....  one of those impromptu days  with nothing planned,   but  it ended up being  completely  wonderful  and encompassed  a  quarter of our state!!!
This  gorgeous view across the Shenandoah Valley to the  Blue Ridge Mountains  was    taken from Milmont Nursery's parking lot  in Stuart's Draft, Va.  This area is known for its  Amish  farms  and  pristine beauty!

 The nursery was in full swing with Mother's Day shoppers.. and they  were in grand supply...!   Gorgeous!!!

I am thankful..
for my dear husband  who at this moment is mowing  our  .75 of an acre... and he really doesn't exactly feel like it.. I wish  he could be  persuaded to  wait until  another day...   but alas,  the temps will only be hotter  later in the week..    This is the part I don't like about   this age!!  Thankfully,  he just stopped  and will finish on another day!!!
I am wearing...
blue  dress carpi's,  and  new  blue and  white  top... We had a church meeting earlier... 

I am watching.....
The Great British Baking Show..on BBC (Netflix)

I am  reading...
need to get back into   the Jan Karon book  I almost started last week..
Some where Safe with Somebody Good

I am listening to...
Pandora..   Scottish  melodies!

I am hoping...
to set up the  bathroom plumbing and  tiling job  this week  with  the plumber we  finally have  found...

I am learning...
that  God has my back,,  all the time!!!

In the kitchen...
today  I am delighted that  we were able to pick up   Hub's  free  bbq from    Mission BBQ  because  of his military service...and  we  bought  enough  of  my favorite,  brisket,  for  dinner  tonight as well!!  YAYYAYAA



Absolutely the best bbq around anywhere!!!!

In my garden~

the  spring blooming   shrubs  have   finished  and now it is  the potted  plants  that are trying to  take hold...
but the  radiant yarrow and     Knock Out Roses  are  shining!

Shared Quote

A trio of quotes by  C.S. Lewis

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.

I have found a desire within myself that no experience in this world can satisfy; the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too? I thought I was the only one.

Closing Notes

God bless you all and  enjoy  these  beautiful late May Days!

Happy Mother's Day Hodge Podge

Happy Mother's Day!!

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1. Share a favorite memory of your mother or share a favorite something from your own life as a mother. If you're a mother (or stepmom) tell us how your experience as a mom differs from your own mother's experience.

My mother was  first born of 6 daughters  to a dairy farmer in Grayson County,Va.   Needless to say,  she  learned at an early age to  work hard and was very self sufficient.

  When I came along  I loved    those early years when she stayed home with me...  making our clothing,  cooking the best  dinners, washing our clothes in a  wringer  washing machine and  helping her hang the clothes on the   clothesline.

She was   so  very creative...  if  anyone  stained their nice sweater..  she'd embroider a  beautiful   design over the spot.  She even made the belt that matched this dress..  Very , very  accomplished homemaker.  But  when I was  7 she did go to work..  so that    my parents could buy a piano and  give me  piano lessons.  And she fully expected me take those lessons even if I never learned to play anything.  So many of our friends  would let their girls  stop taking  at the slightest  complaint.  

And even as  shy  as I  was as a youngster and  almost panicked with every piano recital,   for my  senior performance I played the entire  Rhapsody in Blue..  wish I could today!   HAhahaa !

  But the love for music was definitely instilled in me!

As I  enjoy this  photo  it does have a bit of a down side..  those  forsythia bushes  were the ones from which I chose my own switch  for her to    employ  .... Yikes.... no doubt I  got what I deserved...  Momma  just seemed  to  be a tireless woman... it must have been that great pioneer stock!!

My parents  paid my way through college and  I  taught school  for thirty years before retirement.. but    finally  at age 35,  we became  parents of  our  precious adopted daughter from S. Korea.   Such a hugely  talented, and  sweet child...  but I only took  18 months off from work  before  childcare  came into play then pre-school... Thankfully, Amanda  was such a gregarious child  she  got along very well in her varied experiences... all good..I think I suffered most from the missed hours. 

Amanda  took not only piano, (  for her own pleasure,)   but  violin was her  discipline  instrument.   We expected her to  take as long as we could afford for her to... which was  all through school..   And in her life it really paid off..  She was noticed  by a young  student  a couple of years older than herself  who  had organized a quartet.. and when they needed to replace their second violinist  he called on Amanda

they made  quite  a living through high school and college playing  weddings,  parties, and   business 

promotionals.

  He was  concert master  of our local youth symphony  then Amanda followed in that  position.. and they played in the local  symphony together  in college.

Five years later she married the young man..

I might add  to my delight Amanda  now plays her violin in the church orchestra in Boston.

and today  they  have  two precious daughters of their own.

                        

I am  so proud  Amanda   has decided to be a stay at home mom!!!!

2. In May we celebrate teachers (May 9) and nurses (May 6) both. Most every family has at least one in their midst, so tell us something (or a few things) you appreciate about the teacher or nurse on your family tree.

Teaching was the  vocation of choice  among the women in mom's family..  Alas, mom couldn't go to college  because she developed an illness and was given a short  time to live,  before  a  treatment  came along and she was  healed. Praise God.

By that time she  was determined to get married so  was the only one in the family not to go to college. But I will say the teachers in my family inspired me to  want to teach and  it was my childhood dream to  be a teacher and played school    for many years with my little friend across the street.

 One of the things that blesses me is to have several of my students as  Face Book friends today!!!

3. Chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad...which would you go for if all three were on the menu? On bread or a bed of lettuce? If you answered bread, what kind of bread would make it the perfect sandwich?

I love the first two,.   lost my desire for tuna  several years ago  when I found  scales in the can...  never  tried  fresh cooked tuna or  never had a taste for  raw  food  like  sushi... Chicken salad is my favorite.. I  put   cranberries,  toasted chopped pecans,  sliced grapes in it,  and I prefer it  on lettuce..  A tea room  in our area serves it by the scoop  along side a small loaf of  homemade bread .. you tear off and   dip in  balsamic... yum!!!!!!

4. Do you have a desk? Is it organized? If so, share your secret to keeping it that way. If you don't have a desk, where in your home do you take care of family paperwork and business? Where do you normally sit to blog?

  When Amanda  left home I missed her so much  that I took over her school desk in her room  and  set my computer station up there..  it helped...   but when we  remodeled the kitchen I had  the  facing wall  built in with  a  desk  with granite,  and  file drawers and cabinets.. which is great...very handy  when cooking new recipes..  I can just pull it up on computer.. but even with every   convenience for  organization I am still a rather messy worker..

Mail and  pages I  recently printed end up  piled on top of items for a few days before I get around to filing!    Oh, well.

5. When I was nine years old....  I started into my gawky stage...    I was  a great kickball player  with my saddle oxfords...    but  I  had to start wearing  cat eye glasses,  and   my hair  never looked good in school photos!! Did you have a mother that  curled your hair in rollers the night before  photos and  those  stupid  locks looked anything  but normal... 

 BTW, YOU will never see me  wear granny hair...  

you know that permed  matted hair..  Actually, my hair  hasnt changed much  in 50 years...  and no hair spray for me.. 

 Bleh!!!

That initial growth spurt seemed to drain me of my  former  cuteness.  I  started feeling very  self conscious and    really  became  an introvert!!  Especially, around the girls,,, I didnt know how to    ingratiate myself among them..  

And actually  started    playing more  with the boys , maybe because they accepted me  because of my  amazing kicking skills,,  whether on the playground or  under my desk!  ....  and  found it easier to  give and take  in conversation with them..  That has lasted  all of my life.  I  can always  talk much  more easily with males than females...  

6. Insert your own random thought here.

You will be glad to know that   I was  so ashamed of my  desk area,  that I have just now  sorted my papers and at least put them away...  now.,  to tackle  this never ending mail stack!!!!  Aha,  a  20% off at Kohl's!

The Simple Woman's Day Book

For Today~ May 7, 2017

Happy Day Day

The Simple Woman Day Book

 Out my window... 
 A beautiful, clear,   day with  a bit of crispness in the atmosphere...  no  haze...  just  fresh air.. love it!

I am thinking...
how very blessed we are....   and  it isn't anything we've done..  it is all  God!!

I am thankful..
that   God, the Father,  has provided  Dr.s  with the    ability   to  help their patients  with more and more non-invasive procedures that make  life so much more delightful..  Thank you, Father , for your loving care  you provide to us  through your  vessels  of medical acumen and  ability!

I am wearing...
jeans and  white blouse

I am watching.....
those    romantic chic flicks  on Hallmark
like Love Blossoms...

I am  reading...
Redeemed by  Angela Thomas- Pharr Bible Study
Psalms

I am listening to...
talk radio again,  but is Hubs  fault.

I am hoping...
to  have  face time with my girls  soon...  I'm anxious to hear about their fun weekend this past weekend

I am learning...
that  God has my back,,  all the time!!!

In the kitchen...
Hubs is actually making  it as I type..   fresh  corn on the cob, hot dogs, and  chips salsa  and  guacamole!!

In my garden~
My   beginnings of  a lavender  crop....

I am  loving my new variegated  geraniums.

 I have high hopes for this  potted garden  as  it  really   gets started!!

 Angel wing begonias always do well in this area..   I believe this plant has  grown  a bit in just a few days!

 I am loving  the blue salvia  perennial along with the  yellow yarrow!!

Finally, the Knock Out roses   are    making a statement

Board Room

Yes, when  Hubs  is in the kitchen it has to be talk radio,  and as my computer station is in here  I have  do follow suit,  but    I much much prefer to be listening to anything on my pinterest list,  such as  music by Kevin Kern,  Yiruma,  Beegie Adair, Anuna,  Dougie Mc Lean, and  Christ Botti.  Check some out at my pinterest page.

Shared Quote

I love the quote  in this months  Tea Time Magazine.. 
All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel , Mother!

Closing Notes

 Happy Mother's Day to all you  wonderfully  nurturing moms in blogland.  God bless you!!!

Friday's Fave Five

Click the icon to return to Susanne's page!!

April showers bring May flowers!

1.  

Today is such a glorious day!!!  We have had  quite a bit of rain  this week, but today the sun is shining and  everything is as verdant as I've ever seen it!!!A gorgeous backdrop  for  Old Glory!  With flag Day  soon  on the horizon  I am honored to  fly  our beautiful flag..

2.

One of my Mother's Day  gifts  from Hubs was  a  great shopping trip  at  the Riverside Nursery where I found this wonderful  peony  that   he refuses for me to plant until  this fall.. so  I  will nurse it through the long hot summer...   it was loaded with perfect blooms  until the  hard rains  bent them all down  so he  cut me a bouquet for my  table.  I   love this color so much!

  

3.

This season I am  also focusing  on  lavender  and it's benefits...  I intend to dry much of the blooms...I am  pretty excited about  this project.. 

4.

About 4 years ago I purchased 3 knock out roses bushes and I was  so excited for  Hubs to plant them....  so where did he... right  behind  a huge   quite old forsythia..  I  couldn't find them for the longest time and needless to say,  I  was  perplexed and not happy.. I mean.. Knock Out Roses!!! I have fussed every season since  and  finally this spring  he decided,  before I could rip into him,  he would take out the forsythia,  and  now at their goodly size,  they do  make  a  splash of glory  there  by the  fence!!  Finally!

5.

What a  sweet surprise to step outside and  see my exquisite snap dragons fighting their way up through the tangle of the rebellious  vinca vine.

 It is almost impossible to stay ahead of that  vine...We  finally have a handle on it...for now...  but  my heroic snap dragons would not be deterred...  what a luscious pink!

Wednesday Hodge Podge

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1. Can you tell I'm embracing a Cinco de Mayo theme here this week? Do you like Mexican food? What's your favorite dish? How about on the side-black beans, pinto beans, refried beans, rice? What about heat-mild, medium, hot? Will you celebrate with Mexican food and drink on May 5th aka Cinco de Mayo?

Sad to say, I've never  embraced  Cinco de Mayo...  which is odd  because I took  5 years of Spanish in High School and  read  the whole of  Don Quixote in Spanish.  Hubs is not    huge on  Mexican cuisine, so  we rarely  have it...and I'm sure  I will get several boos when I add we  did send out to  Taco Bell for supper

 last night. only because  our power was out.  And  regarding  re-fried beans,   I always get them on the side..  and hubs will eat them for me..    I  only like my  pintos with a  nice  hot -buttered  cornbread  pone!  Ole'.

2. Ever been to Mexico? For work or holiday? Love it or no? If you haven't been is this a place you'd like to visit? Can you speak Spanish?

Hablo  Espanol!....  and   studied it  because I figured I would get there someday..  But  the subject has never come up in our household.  Mexico holds no allure for us.

3. What's one thing you may accomplish this month?

We  together are  working on removing the hideous glued down carpet  upstairs  which has been  a painfully   difficult task...   Hubs  has to  use a heat gun to  removed the  mastic and  dry rotted  rubber backing...  not fun.. then  washing and   polishing the  floors..  but  it is so   wonderful seeing the  gorgeous hardwood floors come to life up there..  We  hope to do the  guest room this month.. He is putting  some polyurethane  on the hall  this week.That will only leave our room to do...  Then  I can  begin  shopping for a  few area rugs..

4. If you were mayor of your village, city, or town, what's one thing you'd like to see changed, done away with, revamped, or accomplished? Is serving in public office something you've ever seriously considered?

Well,   in our  community  I have never been a fan of the  loads of taxpayer money  being spent on  linking all the communities with  greenways...  reason being  many of them that  link the city neighborhoods are located in such  treacherously  remote  areas  they a re a danger...  especially to  people  who have no idea of  what they may be getting into..  I believe  that  the  original premise for    these  fitness trails   was  ill conceived...great to have  some,  but    linking all  areas  around  the town   has proven to be  a dangerous proposition.  And the cost  has been astronomical   when  we still have  schools  that need to be  renovated.

Upon research there are scads of photos of the  more  illustrious sites of our greenways.. but none  through the  more  sketchy parts of town, yet  people are encouraged to  use  them all   to    enjoy  all areas of our  wonderful city.  Newcomers  could    get more than they bargained for.,

5. What's something that may be popular, but that you just don't get?

All the hideous tattooing  that  the millennials  are into..  Whole arms,  face, neck.. etc.  I mean  really????

Do  businesses  really  seek  people  who  are  so  covered in tattoos???  Also,   those  ear and nose rings...I mean grandpa  used those on the farm    for his bulls, etc... but....

6. Can't let this week slip by without mentioning Thursday May 4th is Star Wars Day. As in 'May the 4th be with you' ahem. Are you a fan of the Star Wars series? Exactly how much of a fan are you? On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being 'I've seen every film, own the action figures, might have dressed as Darth Vader for Halloween one year', and 1 being, 'what's a Vader?' -where do you land?

I didn't know  the date for that.  That is actually the day I get my  c/scan on my  sinuses!!! Haha

I enjoyed the  first  3 or 4    films...But I think  that is one  story that  has been  taken a bit too far... (MHO) I know  that are  fans  who live it.. literally...I  suppose  I am  a  5 on the  scale..I love the music better than the  storyline.

7. Scroll back through your blog posts and in three sentences or less tell us the general theme of your fourth blog post. Does it still ring true today? Is it a topic you re-visit on your blog from time to time?

I  was sharing on  Outdoor  Wednesday  because  I had previously taken the most beautiful shot of  our lawn   at sunset.. the  spring  color ... His subdued  glory  and  only He can create.

I do love to share the glory of God through His creation and  I love to share  about  His natural palette of color  and  His design.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I shared  in a previous post about  buying some grat books at the Library Used book sale..

  One I  can't wait to really get into is this one

I  am  so entranced with all things Irish ever since our trip a couple of years  ago  about this time of  year. It has been on my mind a lot lately..  and now  I can't wait to try my hand at Hot Cross Buns, Irish style..  or Dundee Cake.. and  Stuffed Mussels,  but  I think I'll by-pass the Crubeens!

The Simple Woman Day Book

For Today~ May 1, 2017

Happy Day Day

The Simple Woman Day Book

 Out my window... 
The rain  clouds are  brewing..  the  reports are  for  bad storms today so  I  fear  the  blossoms will be beaten down this week!  

I am thinking...
how very blessed we are....   and  it isn't anything we've done..  it is all  God!!

I am thankful..
I just had a telephone call  from a  sweet dear cousin,  who   due to terrible circumstances  about 10 years ago  she lost everyone.  within  a four month period.  She lost her husband,  mother, and mother..  She like my self  is an only child and  she basically had no one  on which to call upon..  she lives  a few hours away,  and  another cousin  tired to  do all he and his family could to  lead her  in  what  needed to be done  about her  living arrangements,  but  she became easy prey  on people  she had trusted  who  took advantage of her..and her  circumstances rapidly  when upside down.  It got so bad  that  many of the  local family members were actually  fearful  for their own   lives  because of  the ne'er do wells  who were controlling her at that time...all  we could do was  pray for her... And  I had many praying for her...  today she called and  her life is completely turned  around.  She  still has major issues  to take care of...  but   she is  loving her solitude,  peace, and  had learned  contentment in her circumstances... and God is blessing her..  meeting her needs  and  she  sounds  good.  She had been without a phone for  several years...  so now  we an at least  call her...  Thank you  for answering our prayers.

I am wearing...
white Capri's and turquoise  tee!

I am watching.....
I continue to watch Escape to the Country  on Youtube.. it is my  escape to    wonderful Great Britain  the countryside and  beautiful period homes...  love these so much...  as I said before, there are scads of episodes on line

I am  reading...
Redeemed by  Angela Thomas- Pharr Bible Study
Psalms

I am listening to...
talk radio .... RUSH!

I am hoping...
that this  low back pain will  finally  diminish....  it came with my  sinus infection..  and that is  finally  getting better with  irrigation and  new  sprays

I am learning...
to trust... trust... trust  the Lord

In the kitchen...
Hubs  made  the most delicious french  toast  made from  sliced french bread  and  enough bacon.. that we could  have  BLT's  for lunch... We have discovered Mrs. Pauls'  Fish sandwich fillets in the freezer section.  They are   absolutely  scrumptious...    One of those each with  some   potato  quarters  roasted in  OO  and  onion  soup mix  makes  a great  dinner with a side salad...

In my garden~
the glory of  spring  shrubs and   blossoming trees  has passed...

and the   garden is begging for  annuals...
I am really hoping to get over to  Riverside   green houses they have the best plants  in the area!  
 

Board Room

I love being a member of the friends of the library here in our area,  for when they  have the used book sales  I  get first dibs at the books.  I shared before  that I  have always been a Jan Karon fan..  I love her Mitford series,  but  got side tracked a few years ago and haven't really read  any of her newer novels,,  But I  found  two at the  sale last week,   and they  are hard cover  which I  love!!
  Here  is my   board of   books  currently on my reading list..

I'm reading this one first...

Shared Quote

Some  quotes form  Jan's first book, At Home in Mitford..

“Lord, make me a blessing to someone today.” 

― Jan Karon, At Home in Mitford

“The firefly only shines when on the wing, So it is with us--when we stop, we darken.” 

― Jan Karon, At Home in Mitford

“Are you reading your Bible?"

Ah, well...I was."

And then you quit."

You got it."

Then, you can expect to be weak on one of your flanks, and that's precisely where the Enemy will come after you with a vengeance.” 

“Sorrow and joy, he thought, so inextricably entwined that he could scarcely tell where one left off and the other began.” 

“Well, I'm going to church. But I've got to tell you that it's full of hypocrites.

My friend, if you keep your eyes on Christians, you will be disappointed every day of your life. Your hope is to keep your eyes on Christ.” 

― Jan Karon, At Home in Mitford

Charming and inspirational writing!!!

Closing Notes

This week I finish the Redeemed Bible Study...

The main premise of the study is to draw closer to God in relationship  through journaled  prayer...  My  prayer  now is to  never  let up on  the habit that  has been  started and   firmly implant it in my  daily  routine!