Mahalo, Donna

Becoming Mothers Who Know: A Mother's Group

2011-07-28T22:31:00.000-07:00

An LDS Mother's Group

This FREE group is sponsored by Moor House Academy and will be hosted by Donna Goff in her home this fall, in Orem.

Discussing writings from church leaders, the scriptures and great literature.
Workshops- Learning provident living skills to teach our children.

Event: Information Meeting

Date: 11 August

Time: 6:30 pm

Place: the Goff Residence

Refreshments will be served.
Please RSVP and receive directions to my home.

Come to an information meeting and find out if this is a fit for you.

Mahalo, Donna

Picture: Mother and Child by Francis Coates Jones

Raising Daughters Who Know: A Mother Daughter Group

2011-07-28T21:55:00.000-07:00

An LDS Mother-Daughter Group.

This FREE group is sponsored by Moor House Academy and will be hosted by Donna Goff in her home this fall, in Orem.
Event: Information Meeting

Date: 11 August
Time: 6:30 pm
Place: the Goff Residence
Refreshments will be served...
Please RSVP and receive directions to my home.
Contact me on Facebook or email me at: moorhouseacademy.org@gmail.com.

Come to an information meeting and find out if this is a fit for you and your daughter(s).
Curriculum: Scriptures, Words of the Prophets and Church Leaders, Classics, and Provident Living Skills. Possible luncheons each month.

Mahalo, Donna

Pictures

2011-07-13T21:56:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am behind on pictures!!! Three aprons, two picture frames, mending, table runners, a T-shirt drop waist summer dress, pints of dandelion syrup, pints of homecanned chicken breast, and celery heart plants... Those pictures need to be taken and then posted here and also on my Learning the Art of Provident Living blog, along with any tutorials, if possible..

WWW. Womanly Wednesday- Refashioned Jeans

2011-07-13T21:42:00.000-07:00

Today, I worked on one project only during our weekly creativity meeting. I took a pair of my 6' 4.5 " son's jeans and created a jeans skirt.

I had previously slit the inseams of the legs. I seamed the raw seams together to create a tube skirt, measured and cut the fabric to be hemmed below the knees. I sewed the back seem up, leaving a kick slit for walking. Then I realized that I was going to have to take the seam to the top necessitating cutting the waist band. Out came the seam ripper! I removed the belt loop. I took scissors and cut through the center of the back waist band. Completely open I could smoothly sew the back to fit me.

Then I worked on the front. It wanted to curve below the zipper. Out came the ripper again. Now I can make the front straight and smooth. I will need to redo the button hole, insertion of the zipper, and re- top-stitch it all. I will need to rebind the button hole and then I get to decide on embellishment if any. Then when I complete it I can reattach the belt loop in the center of the back and no one will see where I cut through the waist band.

Starting with a pair of pants a few sizes larger than me, and the willingness to focus on detail, means I can have a nearly free denim skirt that does not need inserts of fabric and can be a smooth tube style skirt.

Cost of the project so far- Thread.

Somehow refashioning made me want to sing Bibbity Bobbity Boo...

Titus 2s Day- He Shall Rule Over Thee (revised 7/14/11)

2011-07-12T07:56:00.000-07:00

"Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow (esteb) and thy conception (herown); in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire (teshuqah) shall be to thy husband, and he shall (mashal) over (bet) thee."

So, to Eve, he said that he would greatly increase her Sorrow (esteb) and her conception (herown).

`itstsabown is used in the Bible three times and was translated as sorrow (2) or toil (1). It can mean hardship, toil, labor, pain, or sorrow, in other words grief.

Herown means pregnancy, physical conception, or conception.

Eve is a representation of all women. When we give birth to children, it is a labor of hard work! It is also hard work to spiritually and physically rear them, prepare them for life and lead them to the path to eternal life, and guard the family.

"and thy desire shall be to thy husband,"

Woman's desire (teshuqah) shall be towards her husband. Teshuqah means longing or desire. This is as it should be, wives desire and longing should be for their own husbands, for whom they are to be an ezer k'negdo.

" and he shall rule (mashal) over (bet) thee."

Mashal- is to rule, govern, or have dominion. How does God expect our husbands to rule or govern over us? I believe the man will have to give an accounting before God on how he used his dominion. For Paul told the Ephesians "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it... This is a sacrificially protective governance, a protective watch care. As discussed last week, this dominion included being a keeper, giving watch care, nurture, and protection.

Bet- literally means home, house, or household (wife and children) and the number two; it also means Temple, or God's house. As a preposition it means in, at, or with.I can see how that is, as we live "in," "with" our families, and when people come to visit they visit us "at" our homes. "Ruling over" just does work for a clear meaning of "mashal bet." "Over" is not what bet means.

I believe we, as husband and wife, are to rule in our homes, be keepers of our home, and this planet- together. For through marriage we become as "one flesh."

In Ephesians 5:18 "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." If we are to rule with or together, and we are to submit ourselves to one another, this is a humble, united leadership, that is watchful care, not dictatorial, iron fisted, manipulative, or agency violating. Yes, parents need to work to find common ground on which to stand, and then present a unified vision to their families.

How many women have been abused physically, emotionally, and spiritually, because their husbands have been taught that they were to "rule over" their wives, and did so unrighteously, not as Christ loved the church, and did not submit one to another? The idea of "rule over thee," combined with ezer k'negdo being translated as help meet, has caused much misery to women and has destroyed many homes. Yet, in their purity these glorious concepts should uplift, unite, and strengthen families. When families are strong, our communities are strong, and when communities are strong our nation is strong.

M&M Monday- Slow and Steady Wins the Race

2011-07-11T21:46:00.000-07:00

Watching my pantry shelves fill up is very motivating and meaningful to me. I ended my day by starting the canner just before dinner, to pressure can ten more pints of chicken breasts. I still have another 24 bottles to do this week. I would rather do a load or two at a time than try to do a marathon! So, slow and stead wins the race! When we are finished my daughter's family and mine should have about 50 pints each of wonderful delicious convenience.

This morning I studied had my personal devotions and was then able to walk three miles. I came home and worked in the yard pulling weeds for about 1.5 hours. Then I cleaned the chicken run, a very quick and easy job of raking up corn cobs and watermelon rinds to place in the compost heap. I took a shower and rested a bit.

I had a bowl of blue berries and a veggie omelette for breakfast. I gathered the laundry and began a load.

This afternoon I caught up on my blog and answered email.

I put dinner in the oven and then headed to the store to purchase fruit. After dinner I started a load of laundry. We listened to Elder Neil Anderson for Family Night.

All in all, a pretty productive day for me. So, while the chicken thaws in the fridge over the next few days, I have two main things I will be working on... cleaning the house and working on site content. Well, accept for Wednesday afternoon. I still reserve that time for completing sewing and other projects. A great way to start off my week!

Simple Sunday- A Day to Rejuvenate

2011-07-10T22:01:00.000-07:00

I went to church this morning and came home during Sunday School to check on my daughter. She was home in bed sick. I placed a roast in the oven to cook slowly while we were at church. I returned in time for the Relief Society lesson on Family Responsibilities.

I particularly liked the story about how a group of men were trying to move a piano, they struggled to figure out how best to lift it. One man suggested they gather around the piano, shoulder to shoulder, and lift where they stand. It worked. Families are like that. We need to stand in our place as father, mother, and children and do what we can to lift the family.

I made a stirfry lunch. Then I rested. A friend called and asked about a Goff family name she came across doing family history. I attempted to do some family history and found that the line she had went back to Virginia in the 1790s. On my father's side I have a Goff line back that far in Virginia. No connection to my friend's work or my husband's line yet!

Our home teachers came and we were taught a lesson of Hope. I needed to think on Hope!

Roger and I took an evening stroll and stopped at a friend to catch up on how she was doing. It began to rain pretty hard, so her husband shuttled us home.

Super Saturday- Chicken, Quilts, and Wedding

2011-07-09T20:01:00.000-07:00

I drove my friend Lenore to Springville to enter her lovely quilts in to the quilt show. This is her first quilting competition. She did lovely work. One quilt was about Pilgrim's Progress and had hand embroidered faces of the characters, based on drawings in a vintage book. The other was a farm quilt using crayon dyed fabric, honey bees, and wonderful quilting!

I came home and took my husband to Taipan to see the ladder shelves.

We finished 53 pints of chicken before today! Today I canned another 15 pints! No more until next week.

Then my husband an I went to a wedding reception held in the back yard of a lovely home in Alpine. The couple are raw foodies and had made their own delightful vegan treats. The reception was lovely as was the setting. The home owners had landscaped and oasis in the back yard. There were trees, mulched with fine bark and lovely herbs growing as flowers along the border. Then there were raised beds along the south end of the yard, cascading in tiers down the hillside back year. Dividing the yard from the garden was a long berm covered with fine wood bark and with giant squash plants every few feet. At the base of the raised bed tiered garden we found two working bee hives, they appeared to be made of redwood or cedar, with a copper roof. This all made such a wonderful setting for an afternoon outdoor reception!

Fabulously Frugal Friday- Power of an Hour

2011-07-08T21:31:00.000-07:00

I worked on Power of an Hour today. I am working on this next year's Power of an Hour so I can have it up before school starts. This makes my life sooooo much easier.

I also stopped by Buy Low and bought 12 oz. frozen orange juice for .99 a can. We only drink it on Saturday mornings. I am mostly a water drinker...

I took my friend shopping. She needed new shoes. She found them and bought them.

Then we went around the corner to Taipan Trading Co. and and I saw the solution to my desire to have an indoor garden. I wanted to build an open garden shelf at the end of my dinning table, between the table and the sliding glass door. My door faces the southwest and has sun all winter. Taipan had display shelves that were ladders with tempered glass shelves to put plants on. Theirs is for display only, I will have to build my own. OK, my imagination is just going 280 as I figure this one. I wanted to have fresh salad veggies all winter! I will have some winter gardens outside. We will grow potatoes and carrots in them. This indoor garden will facilitate herbs, lettuces, radishes, and more! I can paint mine white, add vinyl lettering, and let the growing plants add the diversity of color. Five shelves of five feet in length and 12 inches wide, give me about 25 sq feet of indoor winter garden!

Thrifty Thursday- Celery Heart Plantings

2011-07-07T20:21:00.000-07:00

Recently a friend posted on facebook about growing celery from celery hearts. A week ago I put a celery heart in water and within a day the center began to grow. Mine is now one inch high! It is working!!! I bought the organic celery on sale. I wanted organic celery, because celery is part of the "Dirty Dozen" high pesticide sprayed vegetable. If I am going to grow something and I have a choice and especially if that choice is economic, you bet I will try it! This is literally stretching a dollar!

I should have thought about doing a photo essay on growing celery this way. I will have to do so with the next one.

WWW. Womanly Wednesday- Being Productive

2011-07-06T19:03:00.000-07:00

I came to my day with hopes that I would be productive today. I had stopped by the store and bought a new seem ripper. I was determined to gently rip the seam from the apron I was working on. I ripped the seam out without much effort. I took the bias tape and connected it into one long bias strip and then pinned it to the apron and sewed the continuous seam all the way around the apron.

This is a wrap around apron, with large pockets, just like the other one I made. It covers all the way around, perfect as a Sunday apron.

Then I pulled out a T-Shirt casual summer dress that I began a decade ago. It is a black T-shirt with tiny black and white gingham for the skirt. I had gathered the fabric and pinned it to the bottom of the T-shirt last week. This time I put a double needle into my sewing machine and began to slowly attach the skirt with a double needle hem. I could wear it now, but I decided I want to add a gross grain ribbon where the two fabrics meet. I also want to roll up the sleeves, press, stitch the sleeve so it won't unroll and add a large decorative button. I may also do an applique of fabric flowers on the front. This is not a fancy dress, it is meant to be a casual dress. I like it because it hangs from the shoulder and not from the waist. This is a little cooler during the hot months.

I have the fabric that Mary and I picked out to add skirts to the bottom of white T-Shirts. Red, white, and blue flags in a heart shape on a white background. Then I can teach Mary how to gather fabric!

So, I have completed one apron today and one dress minus the embellishment!

Titus 2s Day- Dress It and Keep it

2011-07-05T14:48:00.000-07:00

" And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it." Genesis 2:15

Man here, is a small "m," meaning mankind, not just Adam, but Eve also. The Hebrew word for "man" is Adam, and male and female he created them.

To dress (abad) the garden means to till and to serve it. To keep (shamar) means to keep, observe, take heed of.

So, Adam and Eve were to till, watch over, and care for the garden. The earth, the stars, the animals had been created and part of the dominion of Adam and Eve was to till, watch over, and take care of living things. Keeping was not about restricting or caging. It was a stewardship.

In Titus 2, older women are to teach younger women to be keepers or guards at home (oikorous). In a sense, keepers are both shamar and oikorous, part of our dominion which is a stewardship, for which we will give an account one day.

M&M Monday- Happy Independence Day

2011-07-04T23:19:00.000-07:00

My boys arose early to go out with the scouts and place American Flags throughout the neighborhood. I also hung out my flags on the front deck.

We worked in the yard this morning and I was able to get several loads of laundry washed!

We grilled hamburgers and had corn on the cob for dinner. Utah has passed a law permitting aerial fireworks. It was simply amazing tonight to see fireworks in 360 degree surround!

Some Thoughts This Independence Day

Today, is the anniversary of the birth of a nation, our nation. I had several maternal ancestors and fraternal ancestors that fought in the Revolutionary War, risking their lives, to secure the blessings of liberty for their posterity. God gave us our rights, these men secured or protected those rights. We in turn, by our consent, give privileges to men to serve us. It has been 235 years since they established our nation. In that time I think many have forgotten that God, our Creator, gave us our rights and those rights are inherent; our government servants have the privilege to serve us and for that privilege they have sworn to protect the very document that defines their responsibilities and limits. We have responsibilities too. I do believe we will be held accountable for how we use our freedoms, and for those we select to legislate, judge and execute the laws.

How is our freedom today? Do our children understand the great blessing they have and their responsibilities towards it? Do we have appetites that we turn to government to satisfy-- whether basic sustenance or for our desire for ease and pleasure? How independent are we as individuals? As our nation struggles economically, are we part of the solution? Does our parenting style and family government reflect our understanding of the principles of the proper role of government? Do our children know and understand just and holy principles, because they experience them in our homes? Something to think about...

Simple Sunday

2011-07-03T21:13:00.000-07:00

Today was "Fast Sunday." My daughter and I fasted for her close friend who was in the hospital recovering from a burst appendix. He has been in the hospital for a week! I also fasted for understanding in being an ezer k'negdo at this time in our marriage.

Such a peaceful afternoon. After church I fell asleep. I almost never nap!

Super Saturday- Do Again

2011-07-02T23:59:00.000-07:00

This morning was the annual Independence Day Weekend neighborhood pancake breakfast in the park.

My daughter Julia, and her husband, Rory, and their daughter "Bella" joined us about noon. Julia an I removed the lids, wiped the rims with vinegar, got bottles in the canner and turned on the heat. Roger watched the venting and recanning of the chicken. The rest of us went to the Freedom Festival. We returned just as the bottles were coming out of the canner.

I fixed us dinner and then I filled more jars with the chicken from the fridge and began a late batch of chicken.

Fabulously Frugal Friday- Waste Not, Want Not

2011-07-01T20:45:00.000-07:00

I discovered today that I did not bottle the chicken properly. Evidently, I was supposed to let the canner vent for ten minutes. The food is cooked, only it did not get hot enough. So, I will need to remove the lids, clean the glass rim with vinegar and reprocess, venting 10 minutes and canning at 15 lbs of pressure for 75 minutes. Yes, it can be recanned and it will be safe. For the second time this week, I get to learn the lesson of quality and have the willingness to "Do Again." Recanning is frugal (more frugal than throwing it out- cause it is still usable) and safe.

Only I am out of canning jar lids! So, my husband went to get some from a friend that bulk orderes them each year. I really want to replace my lids with Tattler reusable canning lids with their life time guaranty.

I will have to wait until tomorrow to reprocess the bottles. Meanwhile, today, I worked on getting the "Let Freedom Ring" daily devotional binder for the month of July up and available for our family and on my school and organization websites. It took eight hours to take the information, Julia, compiled and to reformat it for the pdf. file.

Thrifty Thursday- Canning Chicken

2011-06-30T12:35:00.000-07:00

Boneless skinless chicken breast were on sale today for $1.28 lb. I met Julia and we were able to get a 20 lb box of chicken. We brought it home only to find it was frozen and it talk all day to thaw so we could bottle the chicken. Neither of us had ever pressure canned anything, especially chicken! So, we had an adventure. After filling and bottling 14 pints, I cut up the rest of the chicken and put it into the fridge to do tomorrow.

WWW. Womanly Wednesday- Quality, Not Quantity

2011-06-29T12:27:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to get started on my projects. I look forward to this time of creativity. I stopped at JoAnne's Fabric store and purchased more green binding tape and green thread.

I went to Lenore's and finished the pockets, then had to use the seam ripper to do it again. Then I pinned the bias tape on to the apron, carefully pinning it in place. Then I began to sew the apron. When I got to the end, I realized I put the bias tape on backward and had to pick out the seam.

In times past, sewing was hard because any time I was doing a project, I was running against a deadline. Seam ripping was almost always certain, because when I am in a rush, I can easily skip steps. Though I was frustrated today and disappointed today, I new I could solve the problems next Wednesday. No projects finished today! I am glad I structured the time, but was not driven by structuring the content to be done today with an arbitrary deadline. I would have most assuredly crossed the line into the zone of proximal development (ZPD) and wigged out. Not imposing a deadline today gives me the space to work on quality, and to do things again, if that is what it takes to end up with a quality project. When it comes to quantity, slow and steady wins the race!

Titus 2s Day- Help Meet?

2011-06-28T12:08:00.000-07:00

"And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." Genesis 2:18

It is not towb that man should be alone. Towb means good, beneficial, pleasant, agreeable, best, precious, prosperity, wealth, valuable, Happy, becoming... Men and women were never intended to live out their lives in loneliness, alone.

"I will make him an help meet (ezer k'negdo) for him." First, there is no such word in Hebrew as a "helpmeet," or its derivative the "helpmate." There are, however, two Hebrew words that have been translated into the phrase "help meet". Ezer has been translated as help and k'negdo has been translated as meet, or an English word for suitable. This does not really carry the full meaning of the Hebrew phrase.

An ezer is someone who rushes to give succor. k'negdo is a counterpart. I feel that I am an ezer when I rush to succor, support, and encourage my husband in the ways of the Lord. I become a k'negdo when I opposed his "natural man" tendency, by being an ezer. So, daily I am prayerful and looking for ways I can be an ezer k'negdo I was created to be.

M&M Monday- Celebrating My Mother-in-Law's 91st Birthday

2011-06-27T22:08:00.000-07:00

Today was my mother-in-law's 91st birthday. Her children and their spouses all took her out to lunch. It was delightful to see her doing so well. That was my meaningful part of the day.

Mom on her 91st birthday.

I did get my walk in this morning. I did not think I was going to get much done today. I surprised myself and completed six loads of laundry and a modicum amount of weeding. I did not get my 90 minute victory going though.

Simple Sunday- Day of Rest

2011-06-26T19:52:00.000-07:00

I went to church today. Very refreshing! I came home and had a restful day. I need to maximize the Sunday rest, as when Monday gets here I shift into high gear. With the changes in the websites and the new business plan, I need to be wise on Sundays and be proactive taking time to tend to the non urgent but important! Ah and the slower pace refreshes me!

Super Saturday- Vision

2011-06-25T22:15:00.000-07:00

Julia, Rory and Isabella spent the night. Today, Julia and I worked on the July Devotional binder- "Let Freedom Ring."

I walked 4 miles this morning, part of that pushing the stroller with my granddaughter in it. At one point during the day, I took Isabella out and she explored the yard while grandma cleared the weeds.

Tonight, Julia, Rory and I had a much more serious discussion- the rebuilding and updating my websites.I must say I am much more hopeful after their business meeting. I am excited about what is on the horizon! More user friendly. Woohoo this is fun!

Fabulously Frugal Friday- Simply Conserving!

2011-06-24T23:02:00.000-07:00

I could have joined a health club or the community center and used their facility to work out. Instead, I took a walk in nature, had real hills to walk, flowers to smell, and birds to listen to.

I stayed home, cleaned, did laundry, and prepared for my daughter's family to join us this evening.

I pulled some blooming clover from the yard and fed it to my new chickens.

We could have bought a pre-made chicken run and coop. However, we chose to build our own. My husband finished building the sections of the chicken pen and then sealed the wood and began painting the sections with his spray paint gun.

I had bought some lean bottom round steak on sale for less than the cost of hamburger. I like round, its about the leanest cut you can find. I placed the steaks on parchment lined cookie sheets and placed them in the freezer. Today I popped them off their sheet and into a freezer bag.

Just a simple day! Refreshing!

Thrifty Thursday - Chicks

2011-06-23T23:19:00.000-07:00

Today, on the way home from picking my son up from his car pool bringing him home for school., I stopped and purchased our new six week old chicks. When most birds cost around $15. I went to the IFA store in American Fork and bought three White Leghorn and three Black Australops for 1.50 each.

WWW. Womanly Wednesday- A great time for Mending too!

2011-06-22T23:12:00.000-07:00

Today I began by sharing with Lenore the next projects I have in my basket. I cut out an apron, stay stitched it, marked where the pockets go and then realized I did not have enough binding and forgot the tread. So, I next turned to the bag that had my mending in and repaired a zipper and two pair of exercise pants.

Victory Ladies:
3 mile walk
I did several loads of laundry today.
I also packaged 20 burgers I had formed and placed on cookie sheets in the freezer.

Titus 2s Day- Teaching Young Women to Be

2011-06-21T22:59:00.000-07:00

Titus 2: 5 "To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed."

So, these are the things I am to teach younger women and the best way I know is by precept and example:

Discrete- Sophron- Temperate, self controlled, sane, not wild. Basically, within the bounds the Lord has set. So, venting, anger, no yelling at other drives, yelling at my kids, being a fish wife is a no no...

Chaste- Hagnos- Clean, pure, modest. I see this as more than sexual purity, but being comely, becoming, appropriate, not trying to be the center of attraction, not conspicuous consumption. Although, in this day an age of flaunting, a virtuous, lovely, comely dressed young woman would be very attractive.

Keepers at home- Oikouros - watchman over the house, keeper or guard of the home.I do not see this as a dictum to be a stay at home mom, though the translation implies that. I see this as dominion, to watch over and protect. Merely being at home does not live up to the meaning of the original Greek. If I do not watch over the household both family and possessions I am not being oikouros.

Good-Agathos- Upright, honest, praiseworthy.

Obedient to own Husband- Hupotasso - cooperation, voluntarily carrying a burden. This says nothing about obeying other men.

"That the word of God be not blasphemed." Blasphemeo- not speak evil, nor reproachfully about the word of God.

The goal- teach "to be."

M&M Monday- All in a Day's Work

2011-06-20T08:13:00.000-07:00

This is definitely a Meaningful and Motivating day. Nothing like rising early to jump start the day, very motivating! I feel what we do on our websites are meaningful for families.

I drove to American Fork this morning to meet up with my eldest daughter, Julia, and her daughter to come down to my home for a day of work. She drove down half way and I met her half way. My sweet little grand daughter can play with her aunt and uncle and we can get a large chunk of work done on our websites. I love it when my girls can come down!

Today, and the rest of this week, and next week. I am working on a new program we are preparing to launch!!! I hope we can have it up in July! I have had moms asking for this! I am excited about where this is going and what I will be doing with my daughters and our local circle. Julia is working on the July Patriotic Devotional. I can't wait!

Simple Sunday

2011-06-19T22:23:00.000-07:00

Today was simple alright. I woke late so there was no breakfast in bed for my husband ;P

I looked at the clock and it was 17 minutes to church and everyone was still asleep. We got showered, dressed, and arrived 10 minutes late, just after announcements!

I came home during Sunday School because I was having breathing difficulty. I got it under control and was able to go back. I hate bronchitis!!!

I made Belgium Waffles for after church brunch.

After brunch Roger read Elder Bednar's recent conference talk and discussed it.

I fell asleep and was refreshed with a nap.

Roger and I took a slow stroll in the cool of the evening. You could track us by my cough. Sad.

I made teriyaki for dinner.

We read and discussed Mathew 19 tonight. Our devotional was reading from Uncle Tom's Cabin.

Super Saturday- Taking it Easy

2011-06-18T21:24:00.000-07:00

Well, I have been slowed down a bit. That wind storm we had over a week ago has left me with bronchitis. I have been able to use my protocol to avoid such things sense my last bad bout in 2008. I have little energy. I hope I can get on top of this!!!

Nonetheless, I was able to get the laundry done. I did a little weeding when my in-laws came to water their section of the garden we let them use. I rested most of the day. while I rested, my husband worked on a service project from 8-2:40.

This afternoon we were invited through my son, Jeremy, to an after Convention BBQ at Morgan Philot's. I had a splendid time. Morgan and his wife were wonderful hosts, it was the first time I met them. It was a low stress evening for me.

When I got home, I did get some fabric pre-washed for this week's sewing projects.

Fabulously Frugal Friday- Amazon, The Hope Chest Journey and DIY

2011-06-17T21:31:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year my daughter alerted me that I could purchase a $20 Amazon gift card for $10 through and East Coast Buying group. So, I did. I had $10.74 left on it and ordered two books for the Hope Chest Journey I am taking with my daughter. I ordered Sew Sunny Homestyle by Tone Finnanger and Anne of Green Gables Treasury by Carolyn Strom Collins and Christina Wyss Eriksson. Sew Sunny Homestyle cost me 2.75 plus 3.99 shipping. My friend Lenore had a copy and I looked through it and wanted to get the book for a few projects. The book arrived as I was heading out the door to go to Scera Park for a picnic lunch with Shiloah Baker of homemaking-cottage.com and friends. To my delight, the book was in perfect condition.

I had bought a copy of the Anne of Green Gable Treasury for my oldest daughter when she was 12. My next daughter has one, as well. So, now with my last daughter I am getting her a copy, it should be here by the time she gets back from girls camp. In July, we will begin reading the Anne of Green Gables series together using her great grandmother's copy of Anne of Green Gables, to start the journey. This copy was $.01 plus 3.99 shipping. My whole order came to $10.74, exactly what I had left on the gift card. So, I was charged nothing extra, above what my gift card had left.

For those overly concerned with my light reading purchases, I have a collection of classics in my home, floor to ceiling bookshelves, and over 3,000 volumes. No worries I have plenty of wonderful reading material. While I am finishing my incomplete projects this summer and fall on my www.womanly Wednesdays; inventorying, saving, shedding, and sharing, I will look to some of the shorter but powerful classics.

Other Frugal activities today...

My husband is building the chicken coop and run instead of buying a pre-made. The coop in the store was $179 and did not even have a run. I think he can build it better, for less. Yes, pictures will be posted when he is done building the coop and we have chickens in it!

Thrifty Thursday - Second Hand Chic - Gearing Up for Camp

2011-06-16T23:14:00.000-07:00

My daughter is going to girls camp next week. They will be there for five days. There is still at least 3 feet of snow on the ground. Which means that at the end of June she has to be prepared for almost a week of winter camping. If it warms then it will be almost a week of mud camping. Nights are cold. The wind whips up. Our challenge is to prepare her properly, so she can have a wonderful, instead of miserable time. We need to keep her warm and dry. She has grown out of her winter clothes. You cannot find winter clothes in stores in June.

My daughter was able to find a winter coat at a garage sale a few weeks ago. Then today we went to two different Deseret Industries Thrift Stores- one in Taylorsville and the other at Welfare Square in Salt Lake City. There was nothing at the first store, so I prayed. For $6:00 we were able to buy a pair of $80 REI women's pants, someone had gifted to Deseret Industries. They were perfect and looked like they had never been warn! These pants are water proof and wind proof up to 60 mph winds and they are a shell that will slip nicely over jeans and long johns if the cold warrant it. Perfect and only $6.00!

Then we went to Emergency Essentials. We could either get four light sticks, one for each night at camp, or we could get an LED flashlight light stick that has a whistle, flash light, and light stick in one for $4.95. We chose the second option because the LED light stick solved the flashlight issue as well, while the regular light sticks are one time use and have no flashlight.

What about boots? She is will be wearing the pair of L L Bean Gore Tex boots that were handed down from her brother.

All in all, a penny wise day and an answered prayer.

WWW. Womanly Wednesday- Framed

2011-06-15T22:20:00.000-07:00

I looked at the clock and it was 1 hour and 22 minutes before 11:00 AM, the time we usually gather and begin working on our projects. I decided to start early, but I felt I should check my email. There was a devotional packet that arrived and it need my attention ASAP. So I turned my attention to reformatting the devotional and I completed at 2:05 PM.

I still had about 90 minutes before I had to leave for a City Planning and Zoning meeting on whether to restrict honeybee apiaries in our city. I want to have a few hives.

I looked at my unfinished projects and selected one I could work on in 90 minutes. My husband found his can of white gloss acrylic paint and I finished the two pine raw wood picture frames that I had primed the first week.

I went to my meeting, the issue was carried or moved to a later date. I stopped at the store and picked up french bread and ground beef. I went home an Italian supper. After dinner we went to the Young Women's camp kick off. I came home and screwed two pink ceramic knobs on each frame. These frames will hang in my kitchen, a place to hang my aprons. I will do a couple of cross stitches to display in the frames.

Titus 2s Day- Teaching Young Women...

2011-06-14T22:59:00.000-07:00

Titus 2: 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober (sophronizo), to love their husbands (philandros), to love their children (philoteknos)...

Sophronizo- Teach to be sober; train young women to have self restraint or self control, and to cultivate sound judgement. In other words, to curb or moderate their passions.
Philandros- to love "one's" husbands. Wives have the stewardship or calling from God to love their husbands.
Philoteknos- to love "one's" children. Mothers have the sacred duty to love their children.

In pondering sophronizo, I think of what sober is, and then I think of what someone who is not sober acts like. Women who yell and scream at their husbands and children are not behaving soberly. They are not in control, nor are they self restraining. One who has mood swings from depression to very jubilant, is not sober either. I do not feel that this is a call to have a flat personality. But rather developing a demeanor of self control. Sometimes people get out of control because they do not care for their body or spirit.

I Corinthians 6:19- Body

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Galatians 5:22- Spirit

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Sometimes, loss of control is a sign of spiritual malnutrition. Sometimes it is due to lack of exercise or lack of sleep. Not all sleep loss is caused by a child. Is our sleep crowded out by a shift in priorities? Does God get our first fruits, or our leftovers? When we study his word and draw near unto Him, and take care of our temple, our bodies, we will see increased capacity to weather the storms, to avoid unnecessary triggers, and live more soberly. As we become more sober minded, it will be easier to show our genuine love for our husbands and our children.

I often hear that love and respect need to be earned. I could not disagree more. Love is a verb, love is a choice. We love people because who we are inside, not because they merit it. God commands us to even love our enemies, the very people we may feel unworthy of our love. Respect is about who we are it should not be based on whether someone is worthy of that respect. Sober minded women can be loving and respectful to others no matter how they behave. Some with hold love because they do not want to reward bad behavior. But we have been commanded to love! We have been loved even though we have been sinful and hurt people. Even when whipped and spat upon, the Savior was gracious loving of his enemies and respectful, even when they were not.

It is trust where we take risks and trust thereafter needs to be re-earned through trustworthy behavior. Our husbands and our children need us to be sober-minded and they need our unconditional love and respect. Upon love and respect trust flourishes. A simple test, "Is it Loving?" "How would I respond to such treatment?" The golden rule, is the perfect tool!

Flag Day 2011

2011-06-14T12:08:00.000-07:00

On this day, 234 years ago, in 1777 that the Second Continental Congress adopted by resolution-- the American Flag.

George Morris credited with suggesting the first Flag Day:

" To George Morris of Hartford, Conn., is popularly given the credit of suggesting "Flag Day," the occasion being in honor of the adoption of the American flag on June 14, 1777. The city of Hartford observed the day in 1861, carrying out a program of a patriotic order, praying for the success of the Federal arms and the preservation of the Union." Kansas: a Cyclopedia of State History, published by Standard Publishing Company of Chicago in 1912.

So, the first instance of celebrating Flag Day, was a religious patriotic service. The Federal Army, was the Union Army, as it was the south that ceded from the Union. These people were praying for their troops and for the preservation of their nation. However, it was not until several others worked to get the day established over the years that in 1916 Woodrow Wilson set Flag Day by proclamation, and in August 1949 that Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress.

This morning, the Boy Scouts came through the neighborhood and placed flags in people's yards. This is their annual fundraiser to help defray the cost of summer camp and activities. People pay a fee to have the flag placed in their yard for certain holidays throughout the year. Usually, by Memorial Day my red and white roses are beginning to bloom, and my blue violets are still blooming. This usually makes a lovely red, white, and blue color array throughout my front yard. This year is the first year since we moved here in 1993 that we have had a significantly delayed spring. So, the roses are just beginning to bloom and the violets are done. It is still lovely. I have hung out my three full sized United States Flags from my front deck.

Rearranging the Lables

2011-06-14T12:00:00.001-07:00

Those of you who are following this blog are aware that I was rearranging the Labels on posts this morning. I apologize if you have been inundated with posts from this restructuring here on this blog:)

M&M Monday- A Clean Kitchen is Contagious

2011-06-13T21:07:00.000-07:00

It was another Meaningful and Motivating Monday for me. The windstorm last week caused a respiratory reaction which has slowed me down. I wanted today to be motivating so I tackled the kitchen first. I cleaned the counters and the sink. When the kitchen was clean I made my bed and began on tightening the living room. Order seem to spread from room to room.

I made a triple batch of Cinnamon Waffles, so we could eat some and freeze some for later convenience. Then I completely cleaned the waffle maker before putting it away, as I always do. My kitchen and dinning room area are a great big country kitchen and when they are clean, I am motivated. Meaningful because now the kitchen is ready to begin the summer food preservation with Mary as my partner in the process.; We will begin with making fruit leather.

I used our new hula hoe today and I love this tool. I was able to stand and weed, then rake them up!!! I wish I had discovered this years ago! I was able to clear most of the flower beds that I had not been able to get to before and was able to do it in almost no time!

Tonight after the debates, for family night we finally began planting our garden. We had planted the onions in April. We got the two 3x4 patches of Blue Lake Bush Green Beans, two 3x4 patches of Carrots and two large tubs of Potatoes planted tonight, one of white potatoes and the other of red potatoes. The kids got the mounds for the squash made, but did not get them planted. Corn, radishes, sunflowers, basil, and squash get planted tomorrow. I am giving an entire bed to my two peppermint plants, as I know they like to spread. I want enough for culinary and herbal tea.We will have to start tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers from nursery stock.

We finished off with a simple chili dog supper and then we roasted marshmallows for s'mores, for dessert..

Simple Sunday- TGIS - Slow Sunday and Technology

2011-06-12T18:54:00.000-07:00

Thank Goodness It's Sunday (TGIS)!!! I live for Sundays. A time to worship, gain vision for the week, and rest from earthly labors.

I have suffered all week from the yellow plume pine pollen laden wind storm of last week. It has hit my respiratory and sinuses leaving me exhausted. We had been working in the garden earlier this week, and looked up at a yellow plume coming from the neighbor's yard. We thought it was fumigators. Then the wind swept up huge. Then all the pines seemed to release their colorful cloud at once. Suddenly our view across the lake was completely diminished. Visibility dropped dramatically. later in the day we picked up my son from his carpool with his boss. As we got to our exit on the interstate there was a sudden dirt storm that took us to zero visibility. Our view cleared just before dusk. So, this has affected me big time.

Today, after the main worship service I had my husband bring me home. He went back to church and I fell into a sound sleep for three hours.

This afternoon my daughter called from Wisconsin and we Skyped on her new I phone. She took me on a visual walking tour of every room of her new home. I got to converse with my granddaughter. She was a joy to behold as she joyously went from room to room with her mother. Technology is amazing!

A very slow Sunday, indeed.

Super Saturday- Laundry Soap, Bee Keeping Class, and Discounts

2011-06-11T22:01:00.000-07:00

This morning I left at 6:30 am to take my son to his carpool ride to Taylorsville, by 6:50 am. I had noticed last night that my laundry detergent was almost empty. I decided this was as good time as ever to experiment with making my own! So, on the way home from dropping off my son, I stopped at Walmart and picked up borax, Fels Naptha soap, and Washing Soda (not baking soda). Yesterday, when I was buying my Food Saver Mason Jar lid sealer, I found soap molds I liked and bought them. The lady behind me said she makes her own laundry soap and has not needed to use pre-spot since she started three years ago. I asked for the recipe, she asked for my email address, I gave her my business card, and the recipe came by dinner time. I did not make the soap today because it takes 24 hours for everything to gel together and I did not want to have to deal with it on Sunday. Once I make it and use it, I will pass the recipe on, through my Learning the Art of Living Providently blog.

This morning from 10:00 am - noon, I attended a free class held at Parley's Do It Best Hardware store-- How to Get the Most Honey from Your Bees put on by--Utah County Beekeepers Association. I found that there are not present ordinances about Bee keeping in my city and our city council will hold a meeting on Wednesday on residential bee keeping within the city. I found that an acquaintance on the next street has both bees and chickens. Maybe he will mentor me or at least point me in the right direction if I ask.

Midday, a friend's daughter stopped by and asked where to get supplies to get started on stained glass. I gave her my sources. Then I gave a second thought. Go online and sign up for Hobby Lobby. They sell stained glass equipment and supplies for beginners and she can save if she uses their discounts.

I picked up my son from his drop-off point in the afternoon. I took my Hobby Lobby coupon with me. There is one about a block from his drop-off point. So, I went to Hobby Lobby and picked up some more soap base, and some candle wick and tabs. I have seriously got to get to the point I make my own soap base! Another project I have been planning for a long time- making emergency mini hurricane lamps of beeswax and canning jars. I also checked the prices and availability of stained glass supplies. They had a wonderful beginners selection.

Later in the evening, I went to the Summer Fest with my daughter. I was a little disappointed. It used to be that outdoor festivals were loaded with Artisans selling their own handmade and hand raised items. The deeper the economy goes into a spiral, the fewer artisans I see. It seems as if people are thinking, what can I find and flip for a profit, lots of resale booths. More and more people are selling food each year and the carnival part gets bigger. I understand Utah has a lot of artisans and they may have switched to other venues.

On the way home after the Summerfest I strolled into Roberts Craft Store. They are now doing 40% off double coupons every Tuesday and Saturday. Meaning you can get two items at 40% off instead of one. I found they finally stocked what my daughter wanted- two piece hair clips. I decided I want a small bag too. I did not have a coupon in hand so decided to return on the way home from our weekly trip Tuesday with a coupon. I use discounts where I can find them.

Fabulously Frugal Friday- Spring Cleaning Christmas

2011-06-10T14:03:00.000-07:00

I am doing spring cleaning and beginning with the storage unit. Time to Share, Shed, or Save! It is almost like Christmas! I found my Atlas Multipast pasta maker, pasta rack, my tortilla press, and my bread slicing rack! Yeah! All of these are tools that fit my present lifestyle and desire for slow cooking, and georgics. Finding them saved me the money of repurchasing them.

I am finding things I want to use. I am also finding things that will go on our virtual yard sale, somethings that we will be at our live garage sale, somethings that most be just tossed! I was happy to find some thing I really want to use, but sad to find one lovely, sterling Silver edged crystal salad bowl dashed to pieces. The bowl was a wedding gift from my cousin and I loved to use it when we used the china.

Over the years we buy things, we are gifted things, and we inherit things. It is a frugal thing to go through possessions and pass things you have to others who could use them. Especially, things that you are not using, and probably won't because of lifestyle changes. When I think of paying for a storage unit, I say "that is nuts." Time to lighten up! Clearing out the unit will also mean less outgo of precious income that then can be conserved!

The Rest of the Story

In spring 2008, we packed up in boxes, half the contents our home and put it in storage. We did this to better show our home for sale. We had a lot of books and we thinned the shelves. I had serving pieces I use in celebrations. I had all of my art equipment and my husband had his sublimation equipment all in our home. We do not own a garage. I was still in graduate school at the time, I was just recovering from being sick for six months. Some of the things I packed were in low use because grad school took a lot of my time. Well, the house never sold. We were never able to move. Yet, the boxes stayed in storage. I graduated in the fall of 2008. In the spring of 2009 I badly sprained my ankle, it was not healed until the snow flew that next fall. In 2010, I was going to work on emptying the storage unit. Then I fell down hill on a hike in the Rockies. I spent the summer healing.

Thrifty Thursday - Victory Garden - Jungle Gym

2011-06-09T10:45:00.000-07:00

The Victory Gardens of the past were a thrifty way to support a family during war time rationing. It being Thrifty Thursday, I saved money by weeding my own backyard jungle myself and it surely gave me a workout that would match most gyms! People are funny. They use all sorts of labor saving devices and then have to pay for a gym membership! I hand weeded and did not have to shell out money for chemicals now, money to cover treatment of maladies caused by using those chemicals, nor did I need a gym membership! I also got the bonus of time to mediate or ponder. The garden is now at the place where simple maintenance should keep it up.

I remember that my grandmother had an acre lot over by the railroad tracks in her Indiana town, She would have the city dump all their leaves there in the fall. It was the blackest, richest soil you ever saw! She used the garden by the rail road tracks for foods for canning and crops like sweet corn, beans, peas, and carrots.

Grandma also had a Victory Garden in her back yard and had full size cherry, peach, and Jonathan apple trees. Grandma lived a block from city hall so her yard was not especially large. Her little Victory Garden was the size of her over sized one car garage, and adjacent to it. She grew the biggest concord grapes you have ever seen. They were planted on three sides of the garden. Under the vines grew rhubarb. Then the garden plot had fresh vegetables for the kitchen and the table.

I have always liked the idea of the Victory Garden. America is now involved in foreign wars, and has an economy that is massively struggling. I do not have an acre somewhere to have a huge canning garden. I do have a back yard that faces the southwest and presently have six 4'x6' raised beds, five semi dwarf fruit trees, and the 12'x 89' tiered garden.

I have not been able to do much the last couple of years. So, this year the process of bringing it back into production involved removing a lot of knee high grasses that had migrated from the lawn and gone to seed, then were climbed by morning glory.

This picture was taken a few years ago from the garden stairs, showing the south end of the tiered garden.. Here are tulips after blooming and beginning their annual die back. I have strawberry plants inter planted with them and they are presently flowering. These were completely covered by grass and morning glory. No more! My plan here is to remove the tulips to the front yard, and replace them with concord grape vines and two currant bushes. Our onions are in, but nothing else.

Planting the rest of the garden will probably be our Super Saturday activity!

WWW. Womanly Wednesday- Completeing Two Projects is Satisfying!!!

2011-06-08T20:31:00.000-07:00

What a fabulously creative day!!! This morning I worked on formatting...

Sons of Adam

A Daily Devotional for the Month of June.

I know it is a tab bit late, but is is full of awesome stories, quotes, poems, and scriptures about the men in our lives. Besides the devotionals are non consumable and can be used in years to come.

At about noon, I went to Lenore's house with sewing basket, two large bags of projects, supplies, and my sewing machine in tow. I did not take the kitchen sink, as she already has one...

Two Aprons Finished!

I finished the ties on the lovely apron I made last week. Then I pulled out a project that was pinned and cut out close to a decade ago- Simplicity Daisy Kingdom Apron Pattern #7481. It was a lovely apron that is designed to have no ties, crisscrosses on my back so there is no strap cutting into the back of my neck, and would protect my Sunday clothes. It was still pinned together and I had not made any markings for pocket placement, etc. Oh, my it was not as difficult as I had made myself believe! Yes, I will post the pictures on my Learning the Art of Living Providently blog tomorrow.

I look through my projects and still like and want them, as my tastes have not changed. It is so satisfying to complete these projects! I have always been sewing on a deadline and that comes with frustration as project times get underestimate. There was no dead line today. If I did not finish, I could work on it next week. I had almost zero frustration and it was the most enjoyable day I have ever had sewing! It was a flat out joyful experience! This is great, I already have all the materials and it rarely costs me anything more to finish these projects! I came home feeling quite triumphant. It is a heady feeling when the project is finished and you can actually use it! When I returned home I had my apron on. Mary was so jazzed, she gleefully said, "Oh sweet, I want one." Awesome. I will let her pick out the fabric and I will guide her through this project to make a Sunday Apron.

Tonight was a free class on kitchen tips and short cuts at Parley's Best Hardware. Though I am a decent cook, and have been cooking for about 49 years, I still learned some good ideas! I will post the tips and others as I use them.

I have more work on the devotional binder. I hope to have it completed by tomorrow and up on Princess Academies. If I finish tonight, then I will have completed three major projects today! So, aside from what I have already posted here for today, and making dinner, I won't be posting other Victories.

In case you are wondering, what about the kids? It is summer. I have raised seven children, three of which are still at home. One son works at Jamba in the Salt Lake Valley. My 16 year old son is working as junior staff, at Entrada High Adventure BSA camp in near Moab. My 12 year old daughter is enjoying the summer weather and friends being home. I only do this WWW.Womanly Wednesday once a week and sometimes my daughter will accompany us and learn new skills! Then she can work on her own projects!

Titus 2s Day- Teaching Goodness

2011-06-07T12:29:00.000-07:00

Titus 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they e in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

Presbutis- an older woman.
Hosautos- in like manner.
Katastema- demeanor, deportment, bearing.
Hieroprepes:befitting men, places, actions or sacred things to God reverent.
Diabolos- not false accusers, not prone to slander, not a calumniator; metaphorically- not playing the devils part, or not siding with him.
Douloo Oinos- not given to wine- not a slave to wine, not in bondage to wine, not a servant to wine
Kalodidaskalos- teaching that which is good, a teacher of goodness

I am an older woman, a grandmother, a great aunt, an older sister, but I am still a young woman, as well. I still have minor children to raise. I see myself as a young woman transitioning, being taught and teaching. So, Paul is teaching Titus that older women should be as older men should be that older women may behave in a reverent or holy manner. Also that older women should not play devils advocate, or be party to the ways of the adversary. The adversary is adverse, he slanders and accuses falsely and older women ought not follow in his ways. As an older woman I should not be enslaved to wine.

Lastly, I should be a teacher of goodness, establishing His righteousness, or in other words, His standard. Raising the bar is raising His bar, the cross bar that holds up the banner for all to see. First, I need to live so my bearing does not detract from the message. As a wife, I am a help and counterpart to my husband, and I need to encourage goodness in him. As a mother my role is nurturing goodness in my children through precept and example. Outside my family I need to not be a stumbling block to others by my actions and words, but be a promoter of goodness, His standard.
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Today's Victories

Four hours of weeding .
Folding laundry.
Worked on family history.

M&M Monday- The Family Garden

2011-06-06T23:11:00.000-07:00

To I worked in our garden with my family garden with my brother-in-law and sister in-law. We worked side-by-side, chatting as we worked. Roger and I, knowing they lived in an apartment, offered the two of them space in our large garden. I was motivated by seeing one 1/3 of the weeds gone from my strawberries, leaving them to thrive in the sun. It was meaningful, because as we spoke with each other we were building relationships and discussing future plans. I plan to have the strawberries and raised beds cleared of weeds this week!
Today's Victories:

Washed five loads of laundry.
Two hours of weeding

Simple Sunday- Day of Rest

2011-06-05T22:57:00.000-07:00

Today I got to rest. We did not eat breakfast, we were fasting. I went to church and was edify by everyone's testimonies. When I got home from church, I put Chicken Adobo in the oven. We not only had my son's family join us, but also a young single from Salt Lake. We took an afternoon stroll and then we studied Matthew 5 tonight.

Super Saturday- A House Full of Blessings!

2011-06-04T22:43:00.000-07:00

Yes, today was a Super Saturday. We had a full house! My son from Colorado, his wife, their three sons, my daughter from Salt Lake, her husband, and daughter spent the night on Friday night. This morning my daughter, her husband, my husband , and I went out talking to friends that have chickens and then pricing materials for their shelter.

This afternoon, my son from Salt Lake, his wife and two sons joined us and we all went up to South Fork for a picnic.

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Today's Victories...

Time with the family.
Washed laundry.
Loaded and unloaded Dishes.
Cleaned the kitchen floor (Got the sticky watermelon residue off the floor.)
Tidied the living room for tomorrow.

Fabulously Frugal Friday- Basket & Hens

2011-06-03T18:43:00.000-07:00

A Basket Case...
I needed a sewing basket and I did not like the pre-fab sewing baskets. Besides, pre-made baskets are pricey!!! I know, time is not free and those baskets are probably under priced for the work in them. So, I bought a lovely lined basket last night for $5.10, which was 66% off, from Hobby Lobby. Today, I looked through my fabric cabinet for fabric to customize my sewing basket. I found fabric to turn the basket into a sewing basket, with a custom liner with pockets for sewing tools, a matching needle saver, and pincushion. I found a lovely cotton red, white, and blue Victorian rose remnant that will work just perfectly. Then I will not need to haul my sewing projects and tools around in plastic grocery sacks! Yes, I will post a picture on my Art of Living Providently blog when completed.

Six Hens a Laying... (don't want geese)

The other frugal thing we are working on today, is setting up our backyard to raise laying hens! The city ordinance says I can have 6 hens for my size lot, and no roosters. Yet, there are homes in my neighborhood that do have roosters. My married daughter, Julia, and her husband, Rory, are going in on this venture with us. Julia also bought me a book about raising chickens- Beginner's Guide to Chickens: A Touch of the Good Life by Lee Faber. So, today, my husband and I went pricing supplies. I can let them free range in my back yard during the day, as long as my gates are closed, but city ordinances require they be put in a predator proof coop at night. There are a lot of mousers on the loose in my neighborhood, so it is a good idea to protect my hens.

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Today's Victory List:

Took my son to catch his work ride at 5:30 am.
Weeded.
Walked my grandsons to the park.
Made an individual omelette for my husband.
Shopped for chicken supplies.
Washed laundry.
Loaded and unloaded the dishes.

Thrifty Thursday - Orcharding

2011-06-02T17:55:00.000-07:00

Thrifty Thursday is about home fruit production. We like fruit. We have panted two peach trees, one died; two Jonathan apple trees-both now hove powdery mildew, a gala apple tree, and three apricot trees (the first two never leafed out). Part of being thrifty takes courage. We had to take courage and get rid of the dead trees and seek a refund!

We discovered the Costco fruit trees were 100% refundable. So, we took them back and got a refund. Then we took the money to Vineyard nursery and bought an apricot tree, with good structure, already in leaf stage. We brought the tree home and let my grandsons assist grandpa plant the tree. We also picked up red potato and russet starts at the nursery.

So now we have on apricot tree, one peach tree (planted next to the fence and there is another peach tree a few feet away in the neighbor's yard), two Jonathan apple trees, and on gala. I only use Jonathans for, baking, especially pies, canning applesauce, and drying. I better see to the powdery mildew, quick!!! We have the Gala apple tree for munching apples. We have strawberries but need another variety. I also want to plant concord grapes (we grew wonderful concord grapes in Colorado), raspberries We grew two kinds in Colorado), Marion berries, and currants. I love berries!!!

Later my friend Lenore called. I took her to the international store to get the ingredients for her to make Chinese food. We returned to her home and I was inspired by all she has been doing with here whimsical decorating and creating a storybook home. We were so motivated by our WWW.Womanly Wednesday. She share with me some projects and skills she wanted to learn. I have my projects to complete, but my mind began to wonder and I decided I want to make a wish list of things I want to learn for living providently. That will be fun, like when my daughter posted about her Hope Chest Journey list!

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Today's Victories:

Weeded several raised beds.
Played with my grandsons.
Returned the dead trees for refund and helped select a new tree.
Ran errands with my friend.
Washed several loads of delicate laundry
Washed white laundry.
Made Chicken Divan.

WWW. Womanly Wednesday

2011-06-02T00:40:00.000-07:00

I worked in the flower bed clearing weeds with my three grandsons. We prepared them for planting tomorrow!

Today was my scheduled day to work on unfinished project and mend. While my son went with his family to the Zoo.

Today's Victories

Weeded the flower bed
Went to the cemetery with my daughter-in-law to out lovely white snowballs on my oldest grandson's grave.
Had project day with Lenore- it is exhilarating to finish projects.

primed two frames, will become apron hooks!
cut and sewed a baby blanket in flannel.
created an apron.
created a burgundy brocade table runner!

Stopped on the way home to get broccoli to make Chicken Divan tomorrow.
Went to Jo Anne's to by trim for the apron ties, and deep red thread.
I baked six chicken breast, de-boned them, cubed them, and packaged them to freeze.

All in all a pretty productive day!

Titus 2s Day- Pondering Vigilance

2011-05-30T23:05:00.000-07:00

Titus 2:1-3 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.

Paul in speaking to Titus tells him to speak sound doctrine. Then he speaks of older men and women that they should be:

sober- nephalios, which is vigilant.
grave- semnos- Venerable, honorable, and honnest.
temperate- sophron- not given to passions.
sound in faith- hugiaino -is sound or grounded in health, sound in faith
charity-agape- Pure love of Christ, sacrificial love.
patience- hupomone- continually enduring.

Paul goes on to say that older women likewise...
likewise- hosautos, in like manner.
So, as an older woman I am supposed to-- with vigilance, be honorable, honest, not given to fits of passion; physically and spiritually grounded, being willing to sacrifice and endure.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Victory Ladies- 90 Minute Victory

No, I did not make bread this week. So, for my 90 Minute Victory! I instead:

We made our bed.
I washed and dried 3 loads of laundry, folded them, and put mine away..
Boiled and de-boned chicken breast. There were at least 6 cups of chicken arrive to make Chicken Divan when my son and his family!
Vacuumed the main living area.

M&M Monday- A Motivating Summer Kick Off

2011-05-30T22:08:00.000-07:00

Our family woke early, even though it was a holiday-- habit. The Boy Scouts had already been through the neighborhood and staked the American flags in the yards. I LOVE this tradition!

We had planned a pot luck BBQ with my husband's brother and sister, but our cool overcast 45 degree weather encouraged us inside. One would think that this would be a big de-motivator. Not when this loquacious group gathers!

My sister-in-laws had brought delicious food for our feast.Cranberry-fig bars, fresh cornbread with a wonderful honey topping, and a large bowl of Chicken Taco Salad. I made a Lemon Poppyseed Bundt cake. I must get those recipes!!!

We gathered together so my husband and siblings could discuss the care of their mother and the self-reliance of the siblings. My husband and his siblings gathered while the rest of us ate, and they discussed their mother.

After lunch we all retired to the living room to each share with others what we were doing for self-reliance. This is where I began to get more motivated. We had three very experienced ladies and their husbands discussing food storage. My husband's sister shared a video that really generated discussion. This is not the video, but a similar presentation by the same person that was in the video we watched...here. Then my sister-in-law shared how she used her food saver. I have one and decided to get the mason jar attachments. Then she shared about the cookbook she bought called Dinner is in the Jar. I pulled out my Perfect Mix and Make-a-Mix Cookbooks. My husband shared our preparedness notebook. Well, my mind was open to new possibilities and I am even more motivated for this summer than before.

By evening the temperature rose to the mid 50s. So, after everyone left, my husband and I took out for our regular mile and a half stroll threading through our neighborhood. We met and chatted with many friends along the way. This just peaked my motivation even higher!

Around the corner we stopped and talked with a friend and his wife. We talked to them about their garden watering system. We had tried many on this sandy bench, which was once an orchard. So, had they. The husband was raised on a farm and is a mechanic by trade. So, naturally he rigged his own system. His system had dual splitter allowing him to attach a hose or to water automatically. I asked about their grape and he told us where he got his starts. I noticed they had chickens. She smiled and said a city ordinance permits up to six on our size lot! They get lots of eggs!

At the end of the street, we talked gardening with our bishop as he twist cording to make a ladder for beans to climb. We chatted and joked with others as we passed. All in all I think we talked to about seven people on our walk. The last one was very inspiring as well. He had planted a large garden behind his home which had never seen. He shared how he grew potatoes, salad lettuces, and leeks. Then he showed us his fun bed. There were two pop cans with both ends removed and standing up right. He had planted corn there, so it will be "pop"corn! He had a half buried mini paper money. There he was growing a money tree. Then there was a round stepping stone. He planted carrots around it. When they grow large enough to thin, he will remove the stepping stone and thin the carrots to 25 and then will have a 24 carrot ring! he had a patch where he is going to put a few little toy cows, you guessed it, ground beef...

The rule of thumb is if you have things planted by Memorial day that is great. This year everything is behind two weeks. So, I figure I have two weeks at most to get the rest of my garden planted. even potatoes!

M&M Monday- Memorial Day- Remembering Dad

2011-05-30T10:34:00.000-07:00

This is my father. Dad was the son of the county sheriff and was born on a farm in Kentucky six years before the Great Depression. He started school in a one room country school house. He later played basketball, ran track, and played football for his high school. His mother died six days before his seventeenth birthday, the week of his homecoming football game. He went on to play football at the University of Kentucky. He worked as a teller at his local bank. He was a typical American boy. He lived in a world of troubled times.

During his first semester in college, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Like many of the youth of his time, and following in the footsteps of his older brothers dad decided to enlist and serve his country. He joined the Naval Reserves, was called up and served on the aircraft carrier the USS Prince William, during WWII. He was Quartermaster- Petty Officer First Class. Yes, he "joined the navy and saw the world."

Dad did not give his life for his country by dying serving our country in war. Neither did his brothers, though one served at one of the gruesomest battles of the European battlefront. No, they were spared by the grace of God. They were blessed to be able to return home and help rebuild America after the ravages of the Great Depression and WWII. They had risked their lives in war and then returned home, to give their life to serving their country and communities.

After the war, the ship dad was on was decommissioned and sold for scrap metal to Japan for their rebuilding. Dad left the navy. Like many other returning servicemen dad used his GI Bill to further his education, married my mom, used his GI benefits to get into a home, and then he raised a family. He worked for Philo T. Farnsworth, the pioneer of television, when I was born. He then worked for ITT on military contracts.

When the plant was going to close, two civilian military employment opportunities became available. So, unlike most returning service men, after getting his feet under him, he did not choose to a career in the private sector. His older brother came home from the military and served in the Sheriffs Department. He was there when his dad took the fatal bullet and died in the line of duty. This brother preceded my father in death. His other brother came home and became a store manager for J. J. Newberry's. He is in his 90's!

Dad had two opportunities before him. One would take us to Alaska, the other to Hawaii. Both places were new states, lots of natural beauty, and small populations. Both were novel and either would be an adventure. Yes, dad chose Hawaii. Had we gone to Alaska family and friends would have asked me about igloos, Eskimos, and Polar bears. Instead, moving to Hawaii brought questions about grass shacks, hula skirts, and volcanoes. We really were on an adventure. We spent 11 1/2 hours crossing the Pacific in a C-121 military transport (propeller engined plane). We did not live in a grass hut, but not far from that. The first nine months in Hawaii we lived in a Quonset Hut in a Naval Ammunition Depot. Dad could go out our back door, and be at work at the Equality Evaluation Labs where he worked, in just minutes. It was less than 200 feet away.

Dad became a civilian government service employee working for the Department of the Navy. He worked in quality evaluation and tested Polaris and Subroc Missiles from 1961 into the mid 1970s. This was a job he worked to retirement in. Had he worked in private industry he would have made more income, but he chose to test missiles and later, before retirement, to even go through missile safety manuals helping insure the safety of those men in our military that had to handle these weapons.

Today, dads remains are interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific , known as Punchbowl.

Simple Sunday - An Opprtunity to Serve

2011-05-29T21:05:00.000-07:00

My Dear Friends,

I am contemplating my God given roles today. I know there are many scriptures to consider and I cannot possibly study them all today. This Simple Sunday morning I am studying and pondering these scriptures in Genesis Chapter 1; I am studying them with an eye to my role:

26¶And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

In the first verse above, I see that God created man and said let "them: have dominion. One might think man refers only to the male of God's children, but the next verse makes it clear that "man" means mankind, both men and women. So I went to my Young's Analytical Concordance to the Bible actual Hebrew word used here is adam, which is not used as a name here, but a noun, and meant human being, red, ruddy, low, another, and person... I have more to think about on these verses!

Well, it is time to get ready and head to Church so, I need to get ready. brb

You probably did not even notice I was gone for three hours.

I found out at church a friend went to Nevada to receive a newborn she was adopting. My friend got there, they received the baby and then had to wait two weeks for the states paperwork so they could bring their new baby to Utah. My friend got very ill, she was hospitalized with pneumonia.Her sweet husband was stuck in a hotel room with a new born, their 16 month old and their 11 year old while his wife was in the hospital. What a dad! They had just returned and she is still ill and weak. I went home and put two dinners in the oven. I worked on family history while the food cooked. My husband and I delivered the dinner and then returned home to eat with our own family. Monday is a holiday, I trust he will be with her. Time to call re- enforcements!

We started reading the New Testament as a family tonight. I love the New Testament! We calendared our week. Then we enjoyed family devotional.

All in all, a very simple day. No, I did not spend time planning my week. We have a family BBQ and Family meeting with my in-laws tomorrow. Then my son and his family arrive Tuesday for the week. I did not want to plan a lot, so I can spend the time with my family.

Super Saturday Victory List - Memorial Day Weekend

2011-05-29T07:53:00.000-07:00

I had a lot of things that needed attention and some of them were planned, others came into view and needed attention. I also realize that I had been going, going, going, and needed some down time. So, somethings will just have to wait. This is what I ended up doing, not my typical Victory List!

drove my son to American Fork so he could carpool with his boss to work at 6:30am
came home and worked on a blogpost
packaged and labeled boxes to ship to my daughter
drove to the garage sale and picked up my daughter to help me with the boxes at the post office
first Orem post office closed, drove to the main Orem office
stopped at Sunflower market and bought corn, organic celery, water melon, and gr. beef.
stopped at a semi annual book yard sale and bought a book on sheds and decks for .80
dropped off Mary at the garage sale, waited for police, there was a scary vagrant and I did not want to leave my friend and daughter there alone
went home
started a laundry load
scrubbed out a drip pans on the stove
tidied the living room for Sunday
made individual omelettes for everyone
answered phone calls
had connectivity issues, time suck, finally just rebooted
my husband was now awake and wanted to run errands, I took my Grocery Book and went with him. All the places but one were within a few blocks of each other.

dropped off the May/June Issue of Victoria to my friend
to Costco to get 2 Romaine, 3 Eggs, and butter.
to the Distribution Center to pick up magazines, they were out
to bed, Bath and Beyond to pick up a coffee grinder to use as a spice mill
did a return at Lowes of plumbing parts not used by my husband when he changed the faucet
to Hobby Lobby to see if they had goatmilk soap base to do an experiment, they did, but I did not have the coupon.
we stopped on the way home to buy potatoes and red peppers at Smiths

I went back out after getting the 40% coupon to buy the soap base.
While there I spoke to my daughter on the cell phone, she needed me to pick up a book for her at Barnes and Nobles, just two blocks away. She was at another Barnes and Noble in Salt Lake and they did not have what she was looking for. She ended up picking me up a book on raising chickens and I ended up getting her the book she was looking for.
I got a phone call, it was time to go back to American Fork to pick up my son
stopped at Winco and he picked up bacon and chips
stopped at Maceys and he grabbed hamburger buns
stopped at Costco again, he needed to get 2 pair of jeans
stopped at Target and he replaced the kitchen rug. I wanted to make one and he told me I did not have the time. He was right. I will probably do one anyway with my daughter, to teach her skills, but probably not until fall.
came home and started to BBQ, the wind blew out the gas grill. So, we worked inside. Had an enjoyable dinner.
worked on my online support
fell asleep before everyone else, they had devotional without me!

Super Saturday- A Day for Victory!

2011-05-28T08:11:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Super Saturday! It is Super Saturday because it is usually packed with work, both business and domestic, and topped off with family time.

Today is the last day of the week. Tomorrow is Simple Sunday again. If I want tomorrow to be a Simple Sunday, this is the last day I have left to prepare for it!

If my other rhythms during the week were able to run in default mode, then today I can relax a bit more. If not, Saturday is my buffer day, to catch up, and have everything ready for tomorrow. Now, I do not know about you, but my rhythms are seldom uninterrupted. This week I had a teleconference to prepare for. Not something I do every week. Since I have the same length of day no matter whether I am running in default mode, or I have other activities that take my attention, I have to make trade offs. Which means Saturday becomes, at least in part, a work day. Usually, it means a few hours of family work, and several hours of work on the computer for my business. Then hopefully, some down time.

Today, one son is at work all day at Jamba, another is on staff at Entrada, my youngest daughter is working a garage sale, my husband is exhausted from spending yesterday under the sink exchanging the faucet and stopping the leaking. That leaves me!

I think I will keep a victory list and post what I get done in a separate post.

Today will be a Super Saturday for sure!

Fabulously Frugal Friday- Provident Comforts

2011-05-27T20:54:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Frugal Friday!I thought of Frugal Friday, because it is a day that garage sales and estate sales happen. From the finds and treasures located there, I can make Provident Comforts. I am not talking about nicknacks, making nicknacks, or accumulating clutter.

A Provident Comfort is something that adds or restores value. I call something a Provident Comfort if I owned it and mended, refurbished, refashioned, or re-purposed the item. Provident Comforts also include items I have found at an estate, garage, rummage sales or at thrift stores, and that I have mended, refurbished, refashioned, or re-purposed. Then if it shows wear or damage I can repair it, because I have done that before. Slipcovers can be used to give furniture a fresh look, especially if the furniture is stained, but solid. Amazing what a little cleaning, glue, paint, joint compound, or fabric can do to restore an object.

It is said that "One man's junk, can be another man's treasure." This is true, especially if they can think creatively, have an eye for beauty, and skills, in that order.Creativity and an eye for beauty can work hand in hand.I see it as looking at possibilities,imagining what I can do with an object to render it more serviceable to my needs. But with all the possibilities and imaginings,with no skill, or at the least the willingness to learn a new skill,nothing can happen.

Often you will find clothes in a second hand store for no reason other than a missing button, a hem that is out, or on furniture-- a stain, a missing nob, or a deep scratch. Simple cleaning, mending, and repair skills are all you need!

When my mother died my sister and I divided her personal things.There was a smooth dingy necklace chain. My sister did not want it. I took it. I looked at it a long time.I knew mom did not usually by things that looked like junk.Then I thought,will it clean up? With a soft cloth, water and baking soda I rubbed of the tarnish to find a lovely gleaming silver necklace chain. Sometimes things are discarded,because the person who has them does not know how to clean or maintain them.

Shedding things you no longer need either through gifting them to a thrift store; selling them at a garage or estate sale; or selling them online, is living Providently, too. It blesses you with more space and sometimes cash, as well as blessing someone else with what they want at a lower price. So, we have things we need to let go of. We have some things from a business we had and have changed our focus and approach to, so we no longer need these items. We have a pallet of shipping boxes, and another of white shoe boxes/gift boxes still in their sealed boxes. We also have blank sublimation tiles and mugs. So, those will go on sale online. Why would someone want to buy them new from someone else and pay a premium, when they can get them from us new, in their original boxes for less? We also inherited many items over the years that we no longer use, including many books. Then there are things we hand make. For this we created a Virtual Yardsale blog. We have begun by putting some handmade items. As we simplify our lives, more will appear on the blog. Sometime this summer, after I have gone through all our cleaning zones and the storage unit, sometime once the weather is hot and sunny, we will hold a live garage sale. I do like talking to people!

The other alternative is to buy furniture new. When you buy furniture new it loses value as you leave the show room. As time goes on the item loses more value through nicks, bumps, scrapes, snags, and spills. This is consumptive and they usually wear out. Whereas, Living Providently and Provident Comforts are the essence of conservative and sustainable living.

Thrifty Thursday - Grocery Savings

2011-05-26T21:36:00.000-07:00

It is Thrifty Thursday! In this economy more than ever, we need to be concerned about home economy, stretching the ever shrinking dollar, being savvy with expenditures, and conserving what we can. We have to move from a debt economy which is clearly non-sustainable, and even more so, because too many people are manipulating the money supply. Yes we need to live on less, pay off debt, and save.

One place we can save is in purchasing food. We can eat healthier and spend less! When we buy prepared packaged food, we pay for the box, the art on it, the fillers in it etc. When we purchase whole foods, we are not paying for the packaging and the fillers.

I probably spend more on vegetables, because I could take more measures such as extended season gardening, microgreens, sprouting, and even indoor gardening. New habits take time to learn and to establish. There are other ways to save on food...

Ad Circulars
Every week we get the food adds for the local grocery stores. There are some stores that are not local but near my daughter, or in-laws. I receive internet ads from them. So,if they have a huge discount I may stop in if I am near. I usually will not go out of the way though. I go through all of the ads and determine the best prices on foods we eat. For those who like to shop at one store, both Walmart and Target price match! I put those food ads in my Grocery Store Game Binder. I make a list of the stores and the best prices. If at all possible I only buy food on sale. I have learned that each store has a cycle and if I miss stocking up, I will have the opportunity again soon. It is good to know the everyday price at the local stores in a five mile radius, of the foods we regularly buy. It is good to know their sale cycle as well.

Coupons
I must admit, I am not much of a couponer, though I use them occasionally. Most of the coupons I see are for prepackaged refined processed foods. those things to not hold a high place on our menu.

Cherry Picking
Cherry picking is shopping the ads. I pretty much survive by cherry picking.

Loss Leaders
I do not just buy things when they are on sale, I tend to buy when they are on a huge sale. A loss leader is something that is a huge mark down that they are willing to lose on, because they know people will come in for the loss leader item and probably buy other goods too. One has to be able to know a good price for an item in order to shop loss leaders. That is where having a price book comes in handy.

A list of the base non-sale prices for my basics, at the stores within a five mile radius. The base non-sale prices change about every three months. As inflation continues to pick up, it may become more frequent than that. Though all stores in a chain honor the same ads, their base price varies, because their location overhead does too. I have noticed the a store on Center Street has lower base prices than the one in the same chain, two miles north on State Street. In fact, the prices at the stores between my home, the University here in Orem and the University in Provo are lower than most places in the state.
A record of the sales prices for that same list. It is good to know what the sale prices are so you can see the cycles, even when you do not buy.
A list of the prices you have paid for items you have purchased. It is fantastic to list the sales prices you have bought things at. It also helps you hone in on the best price cycle.

I check the meat counter in the late evening, sometimes they overstocked with a sale and they mark meat way down on the night the ad ends. Meat is usually safe for a few days after purchase, I extend that by freezing it immediately.

At least one store locally honors the previous week's ads, and the new ads for the coming week on Wednesdays.

Make a menu, make a regular shopping list, grocery shop with a list, and stick to it.Of course, there are other strategies but this is a start!

Too much work you say? Well, just consider how long you had to work and those dollars went to food, when they could have worked for you reducing debt, preparing for short term future emergencies, long term needs, and being philanthropic.

A good resource to understand the psychology involved in the marketing food, store layout to increase compulsive purchases, and how to make your own price book, is the book The Grocery Store Game by Janine Bolon the Money Muse. I loved learning about changing our paradigm from consumer to conserver. This is sustainable living!

Happy Thrifty Thursday!

WWW.Womanly Wednesday

2011-05-25T03:48:00.000-07:00

WWW.Womanly Wednesday? Wholesome Wise- hearted, Well-spent, Womanly Wednesday! How is that for alliteration and a mouthful? Wholesome is beneficial; wise- hearted is wise or skillful; well-spent is time used virtuously; womanly - the lost arts of Godly womanhood.

Earlier this spring I decided that I was not getting enough creativity time and that I had unfinished creative projects. Time was not going to tap me on the shoulder. Often I have begun a project and had to set it aside for something of higher priority. After the crisis is over, I tend not to go dig out the project and finish it. So, I was going to have to carve that time out and make it a default part of my schedule, at least until the cupboard is bare.

I told my friend about my creative need and we decided to get together on Wednesdays from 11-4 to work on those projects. That way I can work with my kids in the morning before I go and get back in time to make dinner before young men and young women. Some days we will meet at my house and some days at her house. These projects include a mixture of things. Sometimes we will work on learning or refining a craft we are a novice at, like soap making, micro-sandblasting, repurposing, etc. Other times it will be finishing up the old, but cherished projects life got to busy for. I have several sewing projects awaiting my busy hands, here is a list of but a few:

Three aprons cut out but not finished.
Several quilt tops waiting to be quilted:

two queen size.
two twin denim.
a baby quilt.

One large cross stitch of our family symbols.
A blouse cut out but never finished.
Ten handmade gifts to make.
Burgundy silk table runner- cut out but never sewn.
Draw String Jewelry Bag.
A paint brush roll.

I know there are others! Today, I think I will make a list by going through the cabinet and inventorying what the extent of unfinished projects are. Then I can categorize small/huge, all of the pieces/missing pieces, high priority/low priority. Perhaps I will then have time left to create something tangible!

Pictures of what I finish will go here.

Titus 2s Day

2011-05-24T09:01:00.000-07:00

I have been reading and pondering Titus 2, today. I feel this will be my Tuesday study, each Tuesday. Many women focus in specifically on verses 4 and 5, but I see it all works together. There are other scriptures I want to study that I feel relate to my role as a daughter of God, and I will get to them too.

But for now there is so much here to consider...

1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

    2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
    3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
    4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
    5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
    6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
    7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
    8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
    9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
    10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
    11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
    12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
    13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
    14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
    15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

M&M Monday- 90 Minutes to Victory

2011-05-23T09:01:00.001-07:00

Mondays should be both meaningful and motivating (M&M). If Monday comes on the tails of a Simple Sunday, the tone can be set for the entire week.

Today was both meaningful and motivating. As the events of the day unfolded, it was clear that our lives are moving through positive change. At first, as my husband and I talked there was a feeling of melancholy, as we realized that life was not as hoped. However, as we engaged in discussion of solutions, motivation and energy seemed to blossom.

M & M Monday can be very motivating when a little ritual kicks off the week. By Monday morning we are nearly out of bread, there is usually a load of white laundry to do, and possibly more. I wanted to kick off a productive week with 90 Minutes to Victory. However, those plans got displaced till tomorrow as we worked through the new reality of changes that are upon us.

What is 90 Minutes to Victory? I begin by starting a load of whites in the washer. Then I gather the wheat grinder, Bosch, and ingredients for bread. I grind the wheat and measure the ingredients into my Bosch mixer. While the mixer is developing the gluten I prepare the pans. I form the bread and place them in the pans. I turn the oven on for 3 minutes and then shut it off, so I have a lightly warm oven for bread rising. I place the pans into the oven and cover them, and then I let them rise till double. While the bread rises I clear the dishes into the dishwasher, wipe the counters, and change the laundry loads. I then begin on bed making and tidying with the children. I stop and go uncover the bread and turn on the oven and timer. We return to tidying and cleaning until the buzzer alerts us that the bread is done. When the bread comes from the oven-- two loads of laundry are washed, the dishes are washing, surfaces are clean, the house smells fabulous and we feel victorious! When you begin the week with a victory, you can't help but feel motivated to tackle other tasks and challenges.

Enjoy!

Simple Sunday

2011-05-22T14:51:00.000-07:00

I am so grateful for Simple Sunday! We all need margins in our lives. Our modern world would fill up every moment if we let it. I slow down, make my meals more simple, go to worship services, take a break from daily routines, cares, and business.

Simple Sunday opens space in my mind and heart to sift through and embrace "what is needful" in my life. Uncrowded by everyday cares, having freshly fed my famished soul in worshiping the Lord, I gain perspective, as I look at the coming week with an eye to prayerfully being an oikouros. In the King James Bible, oikouros is found in Titus 2:5 as "keepers at home." It is so much more than that. In a sense, an oikouros is more of a guard, in this verse a guard of the home. These Simple Sundays give me space to contemplate the coming week and seek inspiration in planning the week ahead. What days have heavier obligations and may therefore require simpler meals and routines? Then I can plan a default menu that will be automatic unless a crisis happens. Then it is good to plan ahead to have a "Plan B," or simpler alternative meal to make using the same basic ingredients.
Simple Sundays open space for deeper scripture study than my life during a busy week would normally open for me. This is a great time for focused topical study.

Simple Sundays give me space for the song of my heart; a time to listen to and sing hymns. Here we sing better than we play the piano. Yet, sometimes we use the piano to figure the music. Funny, considering it has been a while since tuned and is probably off. It does not stop us from singing!

Simple Sunday Suppers flow with the simplicity of the day, making gathering around the table enjoyable. Yes, sometimes a place the china out, sending the message-"Someone special is coming to dinner-You are!" Sometimes it is as simple as a roast or a hen. I can take them from the freezer, place them in a lidded glass casserole, and put them in the oven to bake while we are at church. During the hottest months, it is great to prepare cold dishes for Sunday, on Saturday. Thus, preserving the Simple Sunday.

I Remember Momma

2011-05-04T18:56:00.000-07:00

This was my mom at 18. She was a model at the time. Her eyes were blue-gray though the picture does not show it. Now you know how I ended up with two red heads. She always liked her lipstick red! She loved wearing purple too! Such red hair and no freckles!

Mom was awesome. She had a zest for life and I my favorite saying of hers was "Going crazy, wanna come along?"

Life was an adventure! Her heart was big! Mom was always taking people under her wing...

Dorothy at 18

When I was in second grade mom invited a young airman and his wife, Trudy, to live with us while they waited for base housing, the Haas family.. Trudy was a hair stylist and I can remember the perms she tried to put in my pixie hair cut. They would just wash out. My hair was straight as glass, and blonde.

Then when I was in seventh grade mom invited Elaine Gasser, the niece of one of my dad's co-workers. Elaine was working to earn her residency so she could teach junior high school English, in Hawaii. She lived with us until she could get work. Elaine had an influence on me as a young scholar. She shared about how she expanded her vocabulary when she was my age, using the dictionary and thesaurus to find other words, and she would use them in letters to her friends. That fueled my love for words. I also increased the number of international pen pals I had dramatically.

When I was a senior in high school mom invited a friend of mine and her mother, Pauline King to live with us. Pauline was from Germany and had moved to the same town I was born in. In fact, she had been in the same hospital having her daughter, when my mother was there having my sister. It was great that year having Pauline live with us. I was taking German and speaking it at home really helped me in school. The funny things was Pauline had a son, Ted, he was in my German class. He lived with his dad. I did not even know at the time that Ted was Pauline's son!

Mom was:

Ever the hostess and an excellent cook, always inviting people to join us at dinner.
An artist, painting vibrant oil paintings.
A seamstress with a creative eye. She sewed most of our clothes. When my brother married she saw a blue dress she wanted to wear to the wedding. It was a designer dress. Way too costly for our budget. She went to the fabric store and bought the materials to make a dress like the designer dress, but upgraded by her details.
Mom loved the arts. She would get matinee tickets to concerts, musicals, symphonies, and theater, so she could take my sister and me with her. We would go to museums and galleries together. She took me to oil painting class with her and the fame of creativity was sewn in me.

After I married and then my younger sister married in the same year, mom moved to Europe. Mom worked for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Heidelberg and later for NATO in Brussels. She had always wanted to travel. So, she traveled to all the continents but one. The year she was going to bring me to Europe I became pregnant with my fourth child and was quite ill. I canceled my trip. Mom became ill, came to the states for tests, and just before my daughter was born, mom tool out medical retirement. While she was alive, they never did discover what she had. On 5 April 1994, mom died at the young age of 64 years old; a very young for her family. Her mother lived to 90, and her mother's sister lived to 99 and their mother lived to be 97. Mom's sister is in her 87th year.

Now, 17 years later, I remember momma and the legacy she has left me!

Nesting

2011-04-04T18:37:00.000-07:00

It is springtime and I am in the mood for nesting. As in taking time to care for my nest. I have not posted here very often recently. I am in the evaluation and planning stage. I need to evaluate this and plan this with my daughter. I want her to feel confident in being able to run this home. I think of the book Laddie: A true Blue Story by Gene Stratton-Porter. The mother made sure she worked with her girls to learn every aspect of running it. Then when the girl was preparing to leave home, the mother would leave home visiting her adult children for a month, and leave the particular daughter in charge of running the home.

I had a wonderful discussion with my friend this morning. It brought to mind the following quote:

Do not be deceived in your quest to find happiness and an identity of your own. Entreating voices may tell you that what you have seen your mothers and grandmothers do is old-fashioned, unchallenging, boring, and drudgery. It may have been old-fashioned and perhaps routine; at times it was drudgery. But your mothers and grandmothers have sung a song that expressed the highest love and the noblest of womanly feelings. They have been our nurturers and our teachers. They have sanctified the work, transforming drudgery into the noblest enterprises.

Homemaking is whatever you make of it. Every day brings satisfaction along with some work which may be frustrating, routine, and unchallenging. But it is the same in the law office, the dispensary, the laboratory, or the store. There is, however, no more important job than homemaking.
(Ensign, May 1998, 95)

I am in the mood to create! This nesting will be an awesome journey together!

Noted philosopher C. S. Lewis said homemaking “is surely in reality the most important work in the world,” and even asserted that “it is the one job for which all others exist.”

35. Nehemiah 12:43

2011-02-07T08:19:00.000-08:00

Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.

After long captivity, Nehemiah and one tenth of the Jews were permitted to return home to Jerusalem. Nehemiah led the people in purification and to rebuild its walls, restore their temple, and renew their covenants with their God. They turned their heart towards God, fasted, prayed, repented and rejoiced that they were free to worship God and covenant with Him.

I too rejoice in leaving the captivity of "the world" and to build up the walls of faith for a protection from the adversary and renew my covenants with God. Rejoice, in deed! There is great joy and peace that come through covenanting with God. I can "go into the world with a joyous heart "and not be of the world. I can "spread joy and happiness where ever [I] go and these fine qualities will come back into [my] own life in abundance."

Building a Home Proverbs 14:1

2011-02-04T14:39:00.000-08:00

I have been dwelling on "home building" as of late–

Every wise woman buildeth her house:

but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

Proverbs 14:1

This is an idiomatic phrase of course; it is not speaking of women becoming carpenters. Of course, I can see this house I am building as the children I bare. However, I choose to see the house as my children and the household of my posterity. Part of building my house is how I regard the children that God has blessed me with. Yes, I see them as a blessing.

What legacy am I leaving?

Do I build up my household in wisdom, or by my actions am I tearing it down? My choices can influence my children and generations yet unborn, for good or ill by-- the choice of how I use my time, the words I use, what I laugh at, what I embrace, the looks I give, the praise I give, every thing I say and do can either build up or tear down. I must have vision beyond my years to build my house. Yes, I must think generationally.

I have seen a sign that states:

A house is built of brick and stone,

but love alone can build a home.

A nice saying, for sure. I build my home through love, and that love is so encompassing! Love of God, and abiding in His word builds my home. Loving my husband and honoring him, builds my home. He loving me as Christ loved the church, is building our home. Love towards my children, and trying to be a good mother is building our home. Love towards my neighbor through friendship and kindness is building my home. Loving and seeking after that which is virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy builds my home.

Mastering the Home

2011-01-13T19:48:00.000-08:00

My best friend is now an empty-nester. Her oldest son married in December and has now vacated his old room. She is turning it into a craft room. I went with her to IKEA on Saturday to look at different organizing options. She shared some of her New Years goals.

Today, I was speaking to my best friend on the phone. She shared that she has decided to get a "Master's Degree" in her home. She is going about it in a quite methodical way.

She:

sets time to study classics in home management and takes notes.
looks at each room and considers its multiple uses and what needs to be there.
establishes zones, or a place for everything and every activity.
wants to understand how everything she owns works, how to maintain it, what she needs to maintain it and then obtain those tools.

Of course, this is in the early stages and she is still working out the details. I told her she should write a book on The Art and Science of Purposeful Home Management.

This conversation led to me sharing some homemaking tips I learned over the years and the funny circumstances surrounding those lessons. She encouraged me to put those tried and true anecdotes into a "Home Making" binder. I have been building a Vision Binder of things I want to learn to do or things I want to create. I even have a Home Care binder where I am recording the systems and zones of my home. I had to laugh because it has a place for homemaking tips. I was just thinking of tips from others and not ones from me.

33. and 34. I Chronicles 16:31

2010-12-30T06:38:00.000-08:00

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, the LORD reigneth. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice and all that is therein.

When I look at the chaos the adversary has helped bring into the world, I can rejoice in knowing that the LORD is still in charge, He reigns supreme in the Heavens and He weaves the events of my life and those surrounding me in the world to work together for my good. REJOICE!!!

32. I Chronicles 16:10

2010-12-29T07:04:00.000-08:00

Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.

He created me. He sustains my daily breath. He grants me this earthly experience. Far greater than these: If I will seek Him, He has provided a way for me to overcome all my enemies, including the adversary, death, and the grave and to be joint-heirs with Christ. Something I can definitely rejoice about!

Rhythms... Zones/Defaults

2010-12-28T14:53:00.000-08:00

Financial and Resource Management- To rezone the house- deep cleaning, repairing, repainting, de-cluttering as I go, and inventory our home, to eliminate the need for a rented storage unit, and reduce expenditures.

Before Christmas, I was chatting with my good friend Lenore. She shared her new goal. She said she wanted to get a Master's Degree in Managing her home. Lenore is an inspiration. She wants study the best ways to care for every appliance, upholstery, flooring etc, and obtain the equipment and supplies to do the job right. I am sure more of this will unfold. She is in a different place in her life than I. Both of her sons are adults. Her youngest just left on a mission and her oldest got home the same day; he married today. She is an empty-nester. I am still training children. Yet, I find her goals intriguing and inspiring.

Back to my Financial and Resource Management-goal-getters...

I look at systems as defaults not concrete or imprisoning shackles. With systems I am freed up to follow epiphanies as they come, but when they are absent, I can return to my defaults and continue to move forward in peaceful, simple rhythms. As deeper order comes, this will take less time to maintain! I figure the first time through the zones will be the most time consuming but also most liberating as I pare down to the best, most useful, most worthy to keep and use. Then passing on things that are useful to bless others, leaving space in our lives for blessings as they come. I cannot deny that with a storage unit, God has opened the windows of Heaven and pored out a blessing so large we did not have room enough to receive it into our home.

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Malachi 3:10

I have surived fairly well on "minimum maintenance" of tidying, dusting, vacuuming, and cleaning surfaces. We try to repair things as they break, but sometimes there is not enough time nor is it financially feasible. Touch-ups of paint happen less often.

Then there is our family library to address. Books are bought and enjoyed then find their way onto the shelves. There are at least two floor to ceiling book shelves in each room and some rooms have more. I have bought books, received book gifts, inherited books from my mother, my father, my father-in-law, and mother-in-law., her mother, and her father. I have no working inventory of those books. They need a continuous system of sorting, thinning, inventorying, which should be easy since there are shelves in every room. I can do the books in each zone as I do that zone.I loved working library duty in elementary school. I wonder how many volumes I actually have? Along with the inventory I need to figure out a check out system.

I am reworking my home maintenance systems to be more systematic, more thorough, continuously dynamic (self rotating or cycling) and to include maintaining an inventory. I realize that these zones will take longer than a week. There are regular tidyings and cleanings that need to happen to maintain a livable home. Then there is the deeper work. I want to build the deeper work into a regular systematic rhythm that cycles around and is dynamic, not needing to do a major week or two long "Spring cleaning" and "Fall Cleaning," or major repainting. Even so, I realize that some seasonable aspects, such as, putting away seasonal items and the bringing out of seasonal items are not avoidable.

Beginning the Process

2010-12-28T14:51:00.000-08:00

Now I need to take each goal and cluster brainstorm all it will entail to accomplish and include what materials or tools I might need to get started. Then prioritize what to do so I can streamline systems to accomplish them and check them off as completed. This is a tracking system and not a do to list.

Brainstorming, clustering, and prioritizing, is a very creative, inspiring and time saving process. Kind of a MAP. It prevents me from running back and forth with, "oh, I need this," and "I forgot that."

I will create a binder to track the process!

2011 Be it Resolved, Time for Momculture

2010-12-28T09:05:00.001-08:00

The joy and growth are in the journey.

I see the standards the Lord has set. I have been contemplating the process and realize that some of the goal-getters I set will be reached after a short time, others may take much longer. The key is to celebrate the progress and in its place set new goal-getters to keep moving forward. This is my personal Momculture plan, though I have many things I want to accomplish, these are but a start, they are my personal goal-getters to kick start the year:

1. Social-Emotional and Spiritual Health- I begin the year with focus on Personal Progress. I am beginning by working on Young Women's Personal Progress Faith Value Experience 1.

2. Physical Health- Now that I am sufficiently healed enough, I will start walking again later this week and doing some exercises to increase flexibility, strength, as well as, detox breathing. I have been a walker for a long time. This last year was interrupted by a fall that took a long period of healing.

3. Home Production and Storage- This year I want to plant a garden, care for it, cultivate it, use it and preserve it. Last year I did not get one planted due to a succession of family events and a serious fall and time to heal. Time to order seed catalogs!

However, there is not much to do after going through the seed catalogs until planting time. So, between seed catalog time and planting time, I want to finish as many unfinished sewing projects as possible. I have a few quilts, aprons, etc. to finish!

4. Financial and Resource Management- To rezone the house- deep cleaning, repairing, repainting, de-cluttering as I go, and inventory our home, to eliminate the need for a rented storage unit, and reduce expenditures.

5. Career Development - Learn the technical media skills to make Princess Academies into a 21st Century Finishing School in the home. I have a Kodak Zi6 Pocket Video/Digital Camera and an MP3 recorder and need to learn how to maximize their potential. This is a vital creative outlet for me.

6. Literacy and Education- Read the King James Version of the Bible to appreciate and celebrate this gift to man and liberty which was published in 2 May 1611, four hundred years ago! This really is not a lot. of reading. The bible can be read in as little as 4.5 pages a day! Sundays we are on the early meeting schedule this year at 9 am. I will use that as my advance day, to read ahead. I want to journal my journey!
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I edited this post so I imported the comments:

The Greevers Posse said...: This is a GREAT list! I like how you broke things down into different categories. {Great categories too, btw!} This has inspired me to put together some goals for next year as well. Thanks for sharing Donna! ~DeAyn www.greeversposse.weebly.com; December 28, 2010 9:56 AM
Donna said...: Thank you. I went back and added to Home Production and Storage: "However, there is not much to do after going through the seed catalogs until planting time. So, between seed catalog time and planting time, I want to finish as many unfinished sewing projects as possible. I have a few quilts, aprons, etc. to finish!"; December 28, 2010 12:32 PM
falwyn said...: Hi Donna. I've been listening to your talk at the HECOA summit, and I have a question - I hope this is an okay place to ask it. I was hoping you might share some resources for teaching ourSELVES family work. You mention in your talk "adults who know how to clean a toilet... but don't know how to orchestrate a system/run a house." And you mention that children don't have the willpower and emotional/mental development to do the chores all alone - thus the family work, yes? My issue - I'm one of those adults who doesn't know how to run the house as a whole. I struggle (much to my shame) with willpower to finish and persevere with housekeeping and the like. I'm basically exactly like that kid who knows how to clean the toilet or make the bed but can't seem to make herself do it and then move on to the next chore - who dawdles all day with it, as you said. This embarrasses me to admit, but I was hoping you could suggest some resources or help for that problem. Obviously I feel like I need to establish this in myself before I can really teach it to my kids. Probably it will mostly require just a lot of work on my part, interior work, but any help you can suggest would be most appreciated. Mahalo! :); January 5, 2011 1:05 PM
Donna said...: Falwyn, Thank you. My dear you are not alone. This has been common over the last 60 years, and with each successive generation more so. In reality, we must start with our selves, and be patient with others while we become the change we wish to see. Usually, a woman would marry and set up her home, and then add in and train her children by her side as they came into the family fold. But if mom was not so trained, then it is chaos and living by mood rather than design. Then when moms begin to homeschool, they vacillate between cleaning home and guilting over school, then hyper-managing school and feeling guilty about both school and home. The Home School Startup package I created is a good place to start. http://princessacademies.com/store/home-education-start-package Then over the next few weeks and months to follow I will be adding baby steps for moms. Some in the Commons, Some in MP3 format, some in articles... on Princess Academies... I will post it on facebook that I have new content up!; January 5, 2011 2:20 PM
Donna said...: DeAyn- Categories came from a talk I attended when I was engaged back in 1977,the speaker was B. Packer. He had a worksheet for us. Later the categories were printed in a preparedness brochure. We thought they were great and have been using them since 1977.; January 5, 2011 2:53 PM

31. II Kings 11:20

2010-12-28T06:46:00.000-08:00

And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king's house. II Kings 11:20

The people had just covenanted with their God, their priest, and their King, to serve their God and be His people, and this brought them to a place of peace and quiet. They had destroyed queen who had tried to destroy the royal seed. The people were happy to be in God's favor. Likewise, I am happy when I rededicate my heart and life and find favor in His sight.

Neo-Georgic Musings on the New Year

2010-12-27T16:22:00.000-08:00

A new slate, a new year, new beginnings, seed catalog time, moving forward, growth; the new year is barely five days hence!

I ask myself, how do "I" want 2011 to be?
On one hand, I can then take "my plans" to the Lord and ask for His stamp of approval. But that seems a bit Korihor-ish, kind of seeking to prosper by my own genius, don't you think? This kind of goal setting smacks of being my own pilot, making God my co-pilot. If that is the case, I am in the wrong seat!

On the other hand, I can seek epiphanies and God's will in my life, making Him my pilot. I am not talking about shifting my agency, by leaving the decisions to God. The final decisions are still mine to make. It does not hurt to seek guidance in the process. After all, He can see thinks and know things that I do not. Here is a Georgic scripture:

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galatians 6:7-9

He has given us a road map, a plan for moving forward called the Six Areas of Personal and Family Preparedness. He has even set some standards in six target areas. Here are those areas and standards that were suggested at the Boyd K. Packer B.Y.U. Fireside in 1977. After that these principle became the foundation of the welfare program, because personal welfare begins at home. We were given a handout with a goal planning sheet on the back. It was suggested we make a goal in each area, then list the steps to accomplish that goal, then set another goal etc. My family has been using this for New Year goal setting ever since:

Literacy and Education Standard: To the extent of his capacity, each person is able to read, write, and do basic mathematics. He regularly studies the scriptures and other good books. Parents teach these skills and habits to family members, and both parents and children take advantage of educational opportunities. (see D&C 88:77-80, 118; 90:15; 130:18-19).
A Few Possible Goals:
a) Obtain a copy of the standard works for each family member
b) Study the scriptures regularly
c) Read good books regularly
d) Use the local public library and take advantage of special seminars, conferences, and courses.
e) Take advantage of on the job training opportunities.
f) Other.

Career Development Standard: Each young person receives counsel to select a career in which he can use his talents and skills in meaningful employment. Each person selects a suitable vocation and become proficient through appropriate training.
A Few Possible Goals:
a) Improve your job skills
b) Learn a trade or profession.
c) Outline and follow a plan to prepare for your career.
d) Plan to perform your job well.
e) Teach children useful skills and to enjoy work.
f) Other.

Financial and Resource Management Standard: each person establishes financial goals, pays tithes and offerings, avoids debts, pays obligations, uses family resources wisely, and saves during times of plenty for times of need. (see D&C 42:54; 104:78-79; 119:5-6; Isaiah 58:6-8).
A Few possible Goals:
a) Pay a full tithing, a generous fast offering, and other offerings.
b) Properly budget your money.
c) Live within your income.
d) Plan major purchases avoiding credit purchases.
e) Work toward home ownership.
f) Get out of debt.
g) Have a savings plan.
i) Take better care of your possessions.
j) Other.

Home Production and Storage Standard:
Each person or family produces as much as possible through gardening, sewing, and making house hold items. Each person and family learns techniques of home canning, freezing and drying foods, and, where legally permitted, stores one year supply of food, clothing, and, where possible fuel. (See 1 Timothy 5:8, D&C 38:30)
A Few Possible Goals:
a) Plant and care for a garden.
b) Learn techniques of home canning, drying, and freezing foods.
c) Preserve home grown products.
d) Where legally permitted, store a one year supply of basic food,
clothing, and, where possible, fuel. Store an emergency supply of water.
e) Other.

Physical Health Standard:
Each person obeys the Word of Wisdom and practices sound principles of nutrition, physical fitness, accident prevention, weight control, immunization, sanitation, mother and child health, dental health, and medical care. Members live in a healthy and clean environment. In addition, each member acquires appropriate skills in first aide and safety, home nursing, and food selection and preparation.
A Few Possible Goals:
a) Observe the Word Of Wisdom.
b) Maintain proper weight and endurance through regular exercise, adequate rest, and a balanced diet.
c) Improve or maintain personal and home sanitation (water, waste disposal, food, etc.).
d) Practice preventative measures to preserve good health.
e) Learn and practice home health skills ( first aide, home nursing, and mother and child care).
f) Other.

Social-Emotional and Spiritual Health Standard:
Each person builds spiritual strength to meet life’s challenges with confidence and stability by learning to love God and communicate with Him in personal prayer, to love and serve his neighbor, and to love and respect himself through righteous living and self mastery. Social-emotional and spiritual strength is increased by living the principles of the gospel.
A Few Possible goals:
a) Read the scriptures daily.
b) Have personal and family prayer morning and night.
c) Repent of wrong doing.
d) Attend church meeting regularly and participate in church activities.
e) Hold family home evening weekly.
f) Perform frequent acts of service to family members and others.
g) Other.

Those life areas give me a starting point, God wants me to evaluate where I am in those areas and then seek guidance in setting goals to progress forward.The standards are open ended and leave opportunity for eternal progress.

I have Personal Progress I am working on with my 12 year-old daughter, so I will look at creating a plan that will accomplish progress in these while meeting Personal Progress objectives.

Every New Years Eve, my husband and I go to lunch at Los Hermanos (a local Mexican restaurant) and we evaluate and set goals for the family, for the coming year. In turn, each of us are responsible for our own personal goals.

Now I need to ponder...

30. II Kings 11:14

2010-12-27T08:02:00.000-08:00

And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason.

People rejoice when they are no longer under the rule of the wicked. When the wicked rule, people do morn, and the release from this bondage, like release of any bondage, brings joy.

This a type and shadow of the story of Christ. King Herod under the influence of the adversary had the innocent male children under two slain. Heavenly Father had Mary and Joseph take Jesus to Egypt to hide him and protect him. In the end, though it took nearly 33 years, the adversary influenced evil men to take Jesus and crucify Him. Yet, Jesus overcame death and rose again triumphant, then took His rightful place on the right hand of the Father, to rule and reign forever, and He freed His people from the bondage of death and the grave. We are free because He has made us so. This is the Good News. Definitely something to trumpet and rejoice about!

29. I Kings 5:7

2010-12-20T01:47:00.000-08:00

And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, "Blessed be the LORD this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people."He rejoiced over the Lord giving them a wise King. That would be a blessing for any people. I rejoice when my leaders do good.

28. I Kings 1:45

2010-12-19T19:09:00.000-08:00

And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard.

There really was joy in the city for a new king, anointed by God's prophet, with God's approval. How much greater it will be when the King of Kings returns to reign!

27. I Kings 1:40

2010-12-12T11:41:00.000-08:00

And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.

The people were rejoicing because there was no more confusion as to who should lead Israel in David's stead when David dies. Solomon was a righteous son and was chosen to reign after his father. This is a time of rejoicing, there is no need for the kingdom to choose sides and divide up and war against each other. When a king is decided by might, those who fought for his opponent are in jeopardy. Having this settled by the reigning king and prophet preserved the Lord's theocracy and his church.

When when a prophet dies and there is orderly succession, it keeps the church stable. When presidential elections move forward in an orderly way a nation is stabilized. I too rejoice in the continuity.

26. II Samuel 1:10

2010-12-11T09:23:00.000-08:00

Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

God is there for us. Sometimes, it appears that the adversary is winning, because we take events in isolation. I feel it best we do not voice our troubles abroad, giving others an opportunity to rejoice in our suffering. Rather, I feel it is a time to rejoice and be happy in the promises of the Lord and look to Him, in faith, nothing doubting for deliverance.

25. I Samuel 19:5

2010-12-10T07:41:00.000-08:00

For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?

This passage is so Messianic. David put his life in his hand and slew Goliath. Christ gave his life to slay the great Goliath called the grave. We all rejoiced when we accepted Christ's sacrifice and overcoming for us. Saul sought to destroy David without cause, even though David had risked his life and saved Saul. Likewise, those who turn against the Lord, do the same thing in seeking to destroy His work. Christ is the innocent blood.

I rejoice that He slew the Goliath called death and hell, or the grave. He came to save us and that He did.

Neo-Georgic Christmas 2010

2010-12-08T08:21:00.000-08:00

Have a Very Georgic Christmas!!!

What would a Georgic Christmas look like? A Georgic Christmas is not so much about the categories as it is about resourcefulness, frugality, cultivation, putting our hands to diligent work, creating, giving of ourselves, and our family Christmas traditions of hearth and home.

Family Christmas Traditions:

1) We have been enjoying our "24 Days of Christmas Devotionals": a scripture about Christ, a quote, a poem, a Christmas carol, and a Christmas story every night. This year we published our Devotional in an e-book that people can download and put in a binder for easy use.

2) Attended the Creche Celebration put on by the Dixons. and the Falos . They cleared their family room, bring in boards and cover the furniture, then cover the boards, then bring in dirt and then build a diorama of Jerusalem that covers a huge area of the room. These figures are but a few inches tall. If you look carefully you find diorama displays of different scripture stories taking place throughout the scene.

3) We like to go car caroling the second Monday of December.

4) Grandma is now in a skilled care facility because of the chain of events after her fall. We now visit her, there. My husband set up her decorations. We plan to join her for a Christmas dinner and I would like us to sing carols to her.

5) We have cut logs, brought into the house to keep dry so they can be placed on the fire in our wood burning stove (which has a catalytic converter) and we can sip hot cocoa while watching the fire. Yes, it has a window!

6) We like to do a "White Christmas," which is temple service. This is a way of giving to those who cannot do for themselves.

7) Mary and I begin making the homemade treats today!

8) We are working on homemade gifts: quilts, clothing, and toys. Lots of projects up our sleeves! Time is what I am short on....and each year I talk about starting early. I think that without working it into our routines it is likely to continue to be, "Yikes its --- days to Christmas and I am not ready!"

9) I like letting the children put change we have saved all year in the Salvation Army Kettle and giving to fast offering, sub for Santa, and such.

10) L love handmade ornaments on the tree-- bees wax , stained glass, and sand carved.

11) I love to tell the story of The Last Straw and then we look for ways to serve anonymously. I need to get our corn husk Creche out so we can start adding raffia to the cradle.

12) I love to go to temple Square to see the displays. We plan that for next week.

13) We enjoyed the Ward Christmas Party which is a dinner and a reinactment of the story from Luke 2.

14) I enjoyed the Relief Society Christmas dinner and presentation last night. There was an amazing display and variety of Creches on display including one from Africa, one from Alaska, and one from Hawaii.

15) I am planning on our annual Christmas Eve birthday party for Jesus. Complete with reading of Luke 2, singing silent night, a birthday dinner, red velvet birthday cake, singing a happy birthday song, followed by giving the gifts of re-dedication.

16) Yes, and we are on the look out for ways to serve in our neighborhood. It is so often the Christmas can jerk our focus to helping large charities, when there are those who may be missed or are in need, right beneath our own noses, those around us, whether in our neighborhood, extended family, or those God places in our paths.

Let see, the original Georgics covered:
I call Genesis 1:27-28 the Georgic commandments. "Genesis 1: 27. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." To me this means that we are to tend and care for our posterity and the earth, as He would, caring for things in such a ways as to help it flourish in abundance, a stewardship he will require our accounting of.
The Georgics: Virgil in his Georgic poems covered avian pursuits, orcharding, framing, and animal husbandry.

Bee keeping. We have handmade beeswax Christmas ornaments to remind us to be busy as bees.

Orcharding. Orcharding requires careful and prudent pruning for greater gains and a knowledge of preservation to utilize and not waste the harvest. We have enjoyed canning, freezing, and drying fruit this year. Now , long after the tress have dropped their leaves, we can enjoy the "fruits of our labors!"

Farming. Farming is a life rhythm and teaches us that there is a time and season for everything. I need to look at a way to do more than sprouting during the winter months. Due to my fall in the spring, we did not get a garden in this summer! I need ot learn more about winter gardening, too.

Animal husbandry. According to Noah Webster's Dictionary of American English 1828,
HUS'BAND, v.t. To direct and manage with frugality in expending any thing; to use or employ in the manner best suited to produce the greatest effect; to use with economy. We say, a man husbands his estate, his means or his time.
He is conscious how ill he has husbanded the great deposit of his Creator.
1. To till; to cultivate with good management.
With very little income I work very hard to be a frugal and wise home economist. We do not have a farm. So, I have to shop the sales carefully. Then I am glad for a freezer so I can put food by for the long winter. Yes, and I do a Christmas roast.
It is easy to see the economy on how one spends or conserves financial resources. It is more difficult to be economical in how one spends and conserves their time and energy resources. Like a good farmer, it take time to be proactive and plan things out wisely!

24. I Samuel 11:15

2010-12-08T06:19:00.000-08:00

And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

That day was a day of rejoicing for Israel, because all Israel united under the prophet of God and the anointed King Saul. They were saved from the Ammonites through battle and God got the glory!They offered a peace offering, a renewing of their covenant with God.

This life is a battle and we are under siege from the adversary and his minions. Without the Savior, we would most surely fail. How much more should we rejoice for Christ, the King of Kings, came to free us from bondage and everlasting death? Let our choices and actions reflect the rejoicing of our heart for this great gift of freedom and triumph over the grave. Each week we have an opportunity for a kind of peace offering, to renew our covenant with God through the sacrament.

In Need of Some Rejoicing

2010-12-08T05:53:00.000-08:00

It has been fifteen months+ since I last added to my rejoicing texts. The world has gone in a spin dive and I need to add to my rejoicing texts, because as I do, I will be reminded that, all things really do work together for good, for all of us that have been called according to His purposes.

What is the call? Out of the darkness and into the light.

What is His purposes? That we may have life and have it more abundantly that we might embrace His gospel and follow Him that we may become join heirs with Him.

What better time than the Christmas season to return to this focus? This is a time to rejoice!

Free Cultural Events this Season at BYU

2010-11-26T09:17:00.000-08:00

If you live in driving distance of Utah County, BYU offers many wonderful events this time of the year that you might be interested in.

You might want to come and take in an exhibit or two, go to dinner and come back for a free concert!

Carl Heinrich Bloch: The Master's Hand Exhibit
At the MOA! Although the event is free, you will need tickets, as they do tickets to regulate crowds.

James Tissot: Life of Christ Exhibit
At the MOA!

Free concerts and student recitals are a great way to celebrate the season and to inspire children about wanting to learn music. This is also an opportunity for children to learn social graces and practice them, such as- not talking and making noise during performances. The lines are long and one must arrive really early to get in.

We love the Harp concert it has been a family tradition. We won't make it this year though because it is the night of the ward Christmas program and my kids are in the program!

FREE!!! CONCERTS:
Woodwind Chamber Night (11/30)
Trombone Quartet (12/1)
Jazz Lab Bands (12/2)
Songwriter Showcase (12/3)
Tuba Christmas (12/4)
Harp Ensemble (12/4)
String Chamber Night (12/7)
Flute Choir (12/8)
Honors Tuba Quartet (12/8)
Brass Chamber Night (12/9)

FREE INDIVIDUAL STUDENT RECITALS:
Courtney D Chapman (11/30)
John Shumway (11/30)
Keith Smith (11/30)
Angela Barlow (12/3)
Matthew McDowell (12/4)
Chris Nelson (12/4)
Tess Shaw (12/7)
Jessica Jensen (12/7)
Marcelo Maldonado (12/8)
Ashley Kunz (12/8)
Megan Favero (12/9)

Thanksgiving Devotional

2010-11-02T10:05:00.000-07:00

Its that time of year again! Autumn is here and the leaves are changing. It makes me kind of sad that Halloween is such a huge day in our culture and Thanksgiving seems to be reduced to just a feast. I got talking to my oldest daughter. She liked what I had done with my Christmas Devotional. She suggested we make a Thanksgiving Devotional. So we went to work and created two.

We worked on it. I cried with some of the stories and laughed with some of the poems. My spirit was lifted doing this project. I often found myself singing the hymns as I included them. Now my family gets the benefit and I am sharing it with others, as well.

One is A Thanksgiving Devotional for LDS Families:

Thanksgiving Devotional for LDS Families is 30 Days of LDS based content designed to be used as a daily devotional to focus our hearts and minds on gratitude. Be inspired- laugh, sing, and cultivate gratitude all month long!

Each day's content includes a gratitude:

Scripture- From the Standard Works
Quote from Church Leaders
Hymn or song from the Children's Songbook
Poem
Story or Thanksgiving Document/Proclamation. Some of these stories are excerpted from classic literature.

Now available for $10 through Moor House Academy and is located in the Academy Bookstore.

http://www.moorhouseacademy.org/moodle/

The second one was Bible based and made available on Princess Academies.

30 Days of Bible based content designed to be used as a daily devotional to focus our hearts and minds on gratitude and giving thanks. Each day's content includes a gratitude:

scripture- Bible
quote
poem, song, or hymn
inspirational story

150 page booklet!

Frugiferous- By Thier Fruits, Ye Shall Know Them

2010-09-21T10:03:00.000-07:00

I looked up these word today in Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language, frugal, frugality, frugally, and frugiferous. I feel they are very appropriate for our times. I want to be a frugal wife and mother. Frugal and wise with resources and time.

As you will see when reading these definitions "[She] seldom lives frugally, that lives by chance." In the current of time in which we live, we do not have the luxury to live by whim, mood, by diligently or lamely following the crowd. We simply cannot afford to live by chance.

I have been watching, listening and taking notes of our recent Utah County Regional Conference., held when I was out of town for my brother's class reunion. I just finished listening to Julie Beck's address. She said "If we spend too much time on the nice to do things and the distractions we won’t be aligned. We have necessary things to do, things we were sent her to earth to do. And if we prioritize correctly and align up behind the Lord we can have full confidence that He will make us his people, He will protect us and care for us, we can have confidence in His promises."

I feel the same goes for things as well as for the time we expend.

Scrolling further down through the definitions there is the word frugiferous. Frugiferous deals with being fruitful, which brings to mind being fruitful and replenishing the earth. To me, this means a lot more than having children. It means to be fruitful with the gifts and talents I have been blessed with. Am I a producer? Am I producing the right kinds of fruit in my life? Am I expending my energies in the "nice to do things and the distractions?" Am I plumb,or aligned? Being a frugalist extends far beyond just managing physical resources wisely. If I target purpose, essentials, prioritizing and precision in my efforts that takes requires planning. Time to plan is not wasted time, it actually will save time. That is being proactive. That is the key to abundant living.

FRU'GAL, a. [L. frugalis. See Fruit.]

Economical in the use or appropriation of money, goods or provisions of any kind; saving unnecessary expense, either of money or of any thing else which is to be used or consumed; sparing; not profuse, prodigal or lavish. We ought to be frugal not only in the expenditure of money and of goods, but in the employment of time. It is followed by of, before the thing saved; as frugal of time. It is not synonymous with parsimonious, nor with thrifty, as now used.

FRUGAL'ITY, n.

1. Prudent economy; good husbandry or housewifery; a sparing use or appropriation of money or commodities; a judicious use of any thing to be expended or employed; that careful management of money or goods which expends nothing unnecessarily, and applies what is used to a profitable purpose; that use in which nothing is wasted. It is not equivalent to parsimony, the latter being an excess of frugality, and a fault. Frugality is always a virtue. Nor is it synonymous with thrift, in its proper sense; for thrift is the effect of frugality. Without frugality none can become rich, and with it few would be poor.

2. A prudent and sparing use or appropriation of any thing; as frugality of praise.

FRU'GALLY, adv. With economy; with good management; in a saving manner. He seldom lives frugally, that lives by chance.

FRUGIF'EROUS, a. [L. frugifer; fruges, corn and fero, to bear.]

Producing fruit or corn.

I see the Proverbs 31 woman as being frugal and frugiferous. She uses purpose, priorities, and precision, rather than perfection. She arises early. I see her bringing spiritual meat to her household. As a result, she is frugiferous and produces good fruit in her life. An example to us all to be aligned and plumb. A plumb-bob is used to determine that buildings are upright and aligned. Arising early, to drink deeply and daily from His word and to commune with Him, will help me keep perspective, be aligned and frugiferous in all the things that are vital.

Learning the Arts of Living Providently

2010-09-01T11:59:00.000-07:00

I have created a new blog specifically for sharing provident living skills and posting about classes I am teaching to help people live more providently. The blog is called: Learning the Arts of Living Providently.

The first classes offered there are basic sewing classes and basic Sewing Savvy classes.

FreedomShift

2010-08-09T23:06:00.001-07:00

A week ago, I was given the opportunity to read, review, and give feedback for a new book that is not yet published- "The FreedomShift" by Oliver DeMille. The book is easy to read and understand. I will definitely recommend it to my family, friends, and students. The book speaks of true independence and the need of more producers in our society. We need to produce more and be industrious.

Really, this book is so Georgic! So, now I am re-focused on becoming more productive and independent.

New Farmer's Market in Orem

2010-08-09T17:59:00.000-07:00

Many cities are getting farmer's markets, often in city parks. A great place for local farmers, artisans, and artisnal food purveyors to get their goods in front of the public. Last week, I discovered a new farmer's market in Orem! I was driving along the University Parkway and there, in the northwest corner of the R C Willey parking lot was a large furniture truck sporting a sign, advertising their new farmer's market, every Saturday from now until the end of September, from 8 am-12:30 pm.

No fees. No contract!

No entrance fee for customers. Booth spaces are FREE to vendors and are available on a first come first serve basis. Booth foot prints are 10'x10.' They have set aside space for up to 200 booths. Vendors set up between 7 am and 8 am, some arrive earlier. Those selling food must get the necessary permit from the county.

I think this is a win-win for R C Willey. They open the north end of their parking lot to the farmers, artisans, and artisanals. This last weekend, they offered a free ticket to go in the store and exchange for a flashlight or nice ice cream scoop. They also had a drawing inside for free tickets for great seats at a BYU game.

Vendor Offerings

I live in Orem and just found out about this. It just started in July. Within one month the number of vendors has doubled. Here is what I saw this week:

Free ticket for ice cream scoop or flashlight from R C Willey
Free drawing for BYU football tickets
7 ears of corn for $2. I bought some.
Fresh, light amber Honey, Orem and American Fork harvested honey. A light, delicate taste! They let us sample some on a cracker.
Fresh herbs
Fresh produce
Village Inn was passing out discounts on their pies!
Glass Sculptures by Ray Grover- his work was in the Christmas Show at the Covey Gallery in December 2008. That was a show I was displaying my sand carved glass in, as well. His work is beautiful.
Jewelry- beaded necklaces, bracelets, and more. One vendor had novel charms and pendants of acrylic encased bugs and things, stunning!
Hair bows. Princess Hairbows had some very elegant hair flowers with beautiful centers.
Rise and Shout the Cookies are Out Aprons... so cute! Great play on the words to the BYU Rise and Shout the Cougars are Out, cheer/song...
Robert's Custom Wood Designs- Fire branded bird houses made with license plate roofs and a spark plug for the bird foot hold.
Crochet baby items and afghans and more
Quilted items
Cloth bags, great for quads
Items made of re-purposed denim
Baby clothes
Hand crafted book shelves

There were more booths, but we got there late and missed some of them. Of course, the earlier you go, the more variety and the cooler the market is. I spoke with my married daughter and we may consider doing this next week and get our own booths. Perhaps I will take pictures next week of the offerings and post them. This is the first year, they have only been doing it for about a month. It is growing. Each week the variety has expanded.

Saturday, August 14, 2010: 8:00 am - 12:30 pm
Saturday, August 21, 2010: 8:00 am - 12:30 pm
Saturday, August 28, 2010: 8:00 am - 12:30 pm
Saturday, September 4, 2010: 8:00 am - 12:30 pm
Saturday, September 11, 2010: 8:00 am - 12:30 pm
Saturday, September 18, 2010: 8:00 am - 12:30 pm
Saturday, September 25, 2010: 8:00 am - 12:30 pm

Neo-Geogic Principles of Vision and Planning

2010-07-30T09:01:00.000-07:00

I get to learn a hard lesson today. Though I may have hit this wall before, I was so caught up in the crisis that I was unaware that had I been more Georgic in my thinking, the crisis need not to have happened at all.

In fact, I feel that this crisis mode has become way too much of a cycle for me. I have seen the value of vision and planning when it comes to my children's education and even to domestic tasks and errands. However, I always seem to be broadsided by harvest time, which really isn't all at once. It is not like different crops vary much in when they become available. Different crops are harvested all year round, but locally in a steady succession all summer and into the fall. Knowing this should never leave us in a state of surprise or crisis. Yet, without awareness and pondering, patterns are not recognized, and the remedy is not even considered.

The Georgics learned rhythm from the cycles of seasons and knew there was a time and a season for everything. Their very survival depended on them knowing the cycles and planning for them. Us moderns with our supermarkets that bring food from afar, have dulled our sense of cycles and are often thrown into crisis mode. For years I noticed the steady succession of trees blooming in the spring. Each one with steady clock work and almost to the same days each year. I took more note of the flowering than I did of the harvesting.

I did take mental note that many berries have double crops, one in early summer and the other in early fall. I know that Jonathan apples (the only kind I preserve) come in only for a few weeks at about first frost in late September, early October. I know I will be canning them, yet, do I create a light schedule that is flexible to deal with these harvests? Do I plan a menu that is easy to prepare and does not compete with the canning surfaces? Do I take advantage of canning jar supplies during sales when I am not in canning mode? Do I look for places I can make bulk orders and save? I know I will be using the lids, etc.

Apparently, I am not Georgic enough yet.

I know about the time each year that I need to start my plants. But do I? Always, something else seems to delay it and this year we did not even get planted. Some years we planted as late as Memorial Day. This year I fell the week before Memorial Day and we did not get plants or seeds into the ground. However, had I had a vision and a plan, by Memorial day I would have been eating out of my garden.

I know in our area we have bumper crop apricots every few years. If I see the year is a bumper crop, I could arrange ahead of time by asking those with apricot trees if they would share their harvest. Then I could turn my bottles of apricot nectar into fruit leather and then bottle the fresh nectar. I could plan ahead with walnuts, grapes, and other foods grown in abundance and that many people let drop and rot on the ground.

To be sure, Georgic is a mindset and the lifestyle that issues forth from that mindset. This is the first year in 32 years of marriage that we did not sit down on New Years day and write down our goals for the year, in the six areas of personal and family preparedness. A sense of flying by the seat of our pants has crept in where sanity once reigned. I feel as a ship without a ruder!

The present crisis was completely avoidable had I developed a Georgic mindset and lifestyle. I saw the apricots coming in. I knew I would be processing them. However, I did not have them in my possession. They were not in my kitchen, so they were not totally on my mind. My husband and son went to the temple in the evening, so I did not think my husband would have time to arrange for apricots until today. Which means they would pick them in the morning. So, when in-laws called for my daughter to join them last night and today, I said OK. When my friend posted for someone to read her husband's manuscript and give feedback, I said OK. Then my husband came home and said he would have apricots in the morning and that he had made arrangements, I thought cool.

So, this morning he got out with my son and picked over two bushels of apricots:) I am on page 83 of the manuscript. Yes, I will finish the manuscript, after the apricots, and within the time I promised. Other things will need to be shifted. The hard one is that my daughter is not here to enjoy the process with me.

The other issue is that, I picked up my dehydrators from the people who borrowed them last, before they were able to clean them. Then, because I had not been the last to use them, I forgot to clean them. So, I get to clean them before I start. All due to poor planning on my part!

My married daughter wants me to hurry and do the dehydration so she can use the dehydrators to make leather too. I have dozens of bottles of nectar that need to be turned into leather and they will have to wait until the fresh crop is done. So, I may have to but more bottles. No worries, I will find a way to use all the bottles I get. Still, this log jam is all due to poor planing on my part.

To be sure. The Geogics did have an advantage over us urbanized people. Their rhythms and patterns were passed from one generation to the next, from parent to child, as a way of life. Not all were aware of the principles, but most lived them, because that is how they were raised. Others were intensely aware and applied the principles they learned in farming, to other endeavors to their blessing. You could say that for the last three generations, we too passed our rhythms and patterns to our children, as well. Our rhythms of crisis mode living and patterns of flying by the seat of our pants. There is a proper blend. A true Georgic lived their rhythms as their default. They knew life happens, and because they had vision, rhythms, and plans, they were more flexible (able to adjust to the unexpected), to shift, and prepared to do so, when needed, and still prevent many situations from becoming a pattern of crisis living.

Sundays, I need to spend some time developing these powerful principles of vision and planning. Indeed, Sunday is the best day when most things are removed from my plate and inspiration is easier to recognize from the din of daily demands. I realize that life happens and things do not always go as planned. However, with vision and a plan it does go smoother, I am less likely to over commit and be broadsided by a time crunch crisis.

I feel moving into a more Georgic mindset and lifestyle is the direction I need to go. The implication for the rest of my life is stunning! Now, to work!!!

Going the Distance

2010-07-27T19:09:00.000-07:00

This morning I was able to double my walking distance!!! My neighborhood walking route is 1.5 miles and goes up and down hill. It is great because if I have ant issues I am real close to home. I used to be able to walk about three loops in 45 minutes to an hour. Now is the time to work on just going the distance. Hopefully, after a month of daily gentle walks and pool workouts, I will be able to lengthen my stride and quicken the pace.

Taking the Plunge!

2010-07-26T20:53:00.000-07:00

I fell at the end of May and suffered a brain stem concussion. Healing has taken a lot of time. The concussion is gone, and once my alignment stabilized, I wanted to go to the pool, but realized my gym pass had expired on 20 June.

Today, I discovered that the pass actually lapsed into a month to month and they had already took the money out for this month. I talked to the gym and they gave me until the 25th of August.
I could extend an extra month then, or month to month until they get in writing my notice. We will see. For now, I closed my account as of the 26 of August. Meanwhile, pool walking and focused water aerobics/ kick boarding will help my knee heal.

A lot can be accomplished in in four weeks! I just read an article about women runners with knee issues. The article mentioned that the thigh muscles when strengthened stabilize the knee. I have had knee trouble from a fall on ice 18 years ago, and water workouts always made it get better, and the pain to go away. It makes sense. I am glad this window was kept open for me. So, I am going to take the plunge.

The Neo Georgic in 2010

2010-07-23T02:22:00.000-07:00

People are turning to handmade, re-purposing, slow food, and gardening etc., more out of economic sense, then any other purpose, including "green" reasons. As they do, they stay because it not only makes economic sense, but they are finding the processes very gratifying.

When I was a child, America was still a country that manufactured their own goods, grew their own foods, and used their own resources. Not only that, they created excess and exported it. Thus, raising the standard of living in countries throughout the world.

Increasing taxes and regulation soon drove American industry and inventions overseas. Then other countries began manufacturing goods, and exporting them to America. Thus, their standard of living increased further. During that time, Georgic skills and knowledge were looked on with disdain in America. Children were raised with the idea that agrarian and domestic skills were unfulfilling. So, most people had no desire to pursue or perpetuate them, and often ridiculed those who did.

Home gardening provides higher nutrient density foods, because they did not need to be picked before ripe to ship. With the higher nutrients comes better flavor too.

Today, economic need is sending many people into doing things they have avoided for years. Americans are rediscovering that home cooked family meals are cheaper, healthier, tastier, and more enjoyable than rushed fast food and over refined foods. The popularity of do-it- yourself (DIY) artisanal breads are on the rise (pun intended).

Many are rediscovering the power of working the soil and growing a garden. Some people have even bought chickens and goats to raise in their urban neighborhoods. Fresh eggs! Canning, candle making, soap making, bee farming, and cheese making are gaining popularity again.

Sewing had almost died in America. Cheap foreign goods made the once necessary art of sewing seem a waste of time. As budgets shrink people are turning to sewing and knitting again. Fabric is not cheap. So, people are looking at where they can economize here.Re-purposing used garments into new items usually brings to mind, quilts: crafts, stuffed dolls, and crocheted rugs. Usually, people give up an article of clothing, due to a tear or stain that cannot be removed. However, the damage is usually small and the rest of the garment has copious amounts of fabric in good condition. Shirts and pants often wear out or get damaged on the front or the seat, thus leaving much usable fabric. Seams can be removed and fabric can then be used to cut out pieces for a new garment. The thing that makes these into new clothing items more chic, are found in the patterns chosen, and the finishing techniques used. Look for clothes in your wardrobe, garage sales, estate sales, fabric remnants, and sales.

Some ideas for re-purposing fabrics from used clothes:

1. Men's shirts can be recut and sewn into a blouse or shirt for a woman or child.

2. Fabric from loved shirts or T shirts can be cut and pieced together to make a make a beautiful collar and matching cuffs, ruffle skirt, or a ruffle extending the length of a shirt making it more modest.

3. Save knit tops, cut into large squares or strips and piece together into a quilt. I like to finish the seams and top stitch them for a more finished look.

4. Men's plaid and solid color dress shirts have enough fabric to make cloth napkins.

5. Smaller remnants can be used to make embellishments to hide patching and mending.

6. Smaller remnants can also be utilized in making headbands, hair clips, and flower brooches with singed petals.

7. Denim skirts from old jeans. denim jeans from wast to hip, then gathered ruffle skirt attached at hip. or long, narrow to wide strips used to make a gored skirt

8. Kitchen towels, drapes, and sheets can provide a lot of fabric for sewing aprons, napkins, table cloths., blouses, skirts play clothes, and dresses.

9. Shirt fabric can be used to make a pajama sack to put PJs in and slide under the pillow.

10 Felted tissue holder from felting used woolens.

11. T-shirt drop waste dress.

12. Fabric from old clothes can be used to make bags, purses, wallets, eye glass cases, and cosmetic bags..

13. Clothes from men's shirts and pants can be used to make clothing for toddlers, dresses, skirts, blouses, pants, and overalls.

14. A Man's extra large T shirt can be turned into a grocery bag and carried in the purse.

15. Men's shirts can be made into button opening pillow, with lovely piping and ruffle..

16. Stuffed toys.

17. Mittens can be cut out of a shrunk or otherwise no longer usable sweaters.

18. Men's shirts in colors that blend or work with each other, cut in wide strips and pieced together, then made into a ruffle skirt.

19. Knee highs can be used to make headbands- glue or stitch ends together, clip a floral clip over the join.

20. Cloth place mats can be remade into purses, bags, or a clutch for drawing tools and brushes.

21. Linen table cloths can be remade in to jackets, skirts, dresses...

22. Strip crocheted rugs, bags, and table mats...

and so forth...

I am sure I will find many more ways to reuse fabric from old clothes and linens...

The Artist in Me- Creating My World

2010-07-20T10:50:00.000-07:00

The Hebrew word for create, bara, in the Genesis story of the creation, means to prepare, form, fashion, organize! So, when I plan my life, I am being a creator, tapping into my creative abilities. By organizing, I am being creative and I am making space and time for my creativity, by establishing a default rhythms in my home.

I agree with Mary Ellen Smoot, "We Are Creators."

"I am an artistic mind. I fly by the seat of my pants and I can improvise like no other. However, that makes it hard for me to be organized, and even harder for me to wake up every day and do the same things out of habit." (from a post by Tami on TJEdMuse)

I am an artist, and I too have an artistic mind! For years I flew by the seat of my pants, which really meant I did things by mood, and usually in crisis mode, cause I had put it off and could no longer endure what it was doing to our home. Yes, I kept a tidy ship, living mostly on minimum maintenance, tidy rooms, floors, and dusting. I did this with the children. Deep cleaning and purging had to wait for when I had time. Like mowing the lawn instead of weeding, living in minimum maintenance is only about appearance. That is an insane way to live. Looks nice, but like hidden sin, I knew, and God knew. I was really living a lie.

What changed me? One thing that changed me was contemplating creativity and creating my world. What was I creating by living the way I had? Another thing that changed me was that I have the power, in me to change my world. By the choices I make, I create my world. I choose how to interact with people and things. I choose my attitudes.

The minimum maintenance of daily and weekly things still need to be done. I started out the deep cleaning by having cards, daily, every other day, weekly, monthly, annually. I did that for years in Colorado, and recreated them here. However, if something unexpected happened I was thrown off, and either had to postpone to the next rotation or double up. That did not work for me any more. It is a great exercise to know all that needs to be done in a space. But as a system, yikes.

So, I moving into a zone type system of rhythms. This is all part of my rethinking process since my falls in April and May.

My zones...

1. Master bedroom, and bedrooms are zone one. We need a place of sanctuary that is non oppressive. A place where rest can happen, and where we can feel invigorated by its beauty when we arise to start the day!

2. Workshop, Art Studio, Office, Food Storage Room, and under the stairs storage are zone two. We need to clean out the storage areas of things that no longer matter, so that seasonal things can be moved there and out of crowding other rooms.

3. Entrance and foyer, as zone three. What is the curb appeal? What to people see coming to the front door, is it inviting?

4. Then the Living room and family room are zone four. This is our main area to read, discuss, and entertain quests.

5. Then the dining room and kitchen as zone five.

6. Bathrooms and hall closets is zone six.

Having Mornings for work is great. We can start with the dailies, and put the electronic slaves to work. Then we can work on a zone and do the minute detailing that needs to happen. The first time through will be the longest. If a zone only takes a few days, I can move to the next zone. In the end, everything will be attended to and the kids will learn all that needs to be done on a regular basis to run this home, and not just the minimum maintenance. If we get derailed by something we can fall back to minimum maintenance until we can return to our default rhythms. Then we can pick up, literally, where we left off.

As we move forward and initiate these rhythms, things will simplify, there will be less, and a deeper sense of integrity.

The Temple is a Family Affair

2010-07-17T07:41:00.000-07:00

Sundays, when not in meetings is a good time for family history. We can teach our children how to do research, or we can learn with them. Then we can go to the temple and do the foundational work together.

We live in a distracting world. It may take great effort to get to the temple, and to do so more often. However, the blessings for doing so, of obtaining light in this darkening world, will be abundant.

This is family work and family work is a faith based work.

"When Jesus was twelve years old, his parents took him to the temple. I think it is more than coincidental that our sons and daughters can go to the temple with us when they are twelve years old. Joseph and Mary did not say, “Bishop, will you take our son to the temple?” They took him."
(J Ballard Washburn, “The Temple Is a Family Affair,” Ensign, May 1995, 11).

Temple attendance can be a family affair!

"And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. " Doctrine and Covenants 2:2

The Cleansing of America

2010-07-10T18:11:00.000-07:00

I have read The Majesty of God's Law and felt it was the clearest view of what the founders were trying to create in setting up this nation.

Today, I read the sequel to that book; I read The Cleansing of America. This was written by W. Cleon Skousen and given to his children over a decade ago. He told them that they would know when to publish it by what is happening. This book was published posthumously, this year.

These two books fit together like hand and glove. Both easy to read, clear to understand, and well footnoted.

Yes, I was already familiar with many of the prophecies in the scriptures and by the prophets. However, what I was not prepared for was why the cleansing needs to take place. Well, yes it is obvious we live in a sinful world. Skousen shows what it takes to build Zion, why previous attempts failed, and gives a view of the political, judicial, economic, and social structure of building a Zion.

I feel if people really understood what our founders tried to give us and it was placed side by side with its counterfeit, people would want the real thing. The world has come up with many iterations of flawed and counterfeit social-economic systems. The Lord's system was a free market system based on consecration and stewardship. It can only work with a righteous covenant people. A righteous covenant people must be prepared for such.

Reading this book got me thinking about community covenants. The Mayflower community at Plymouth came together and signed a covenant called the Mayflower Compact agreeing to abide laws made by the compact, so they could survive and have a civil society. I think of what we have today, is so outwardly superficial. Many modern community covenants control the color someone can paint their house or whether they can have a clothesline, or fence their yard. In older communities where homes have changed hands several times, owners may not even be aware of the covenants. Some people, even in newer communities may even ignore covenants and see if anyone says anything. This is a far cry from what community covenants once were. True, modern day covenants are designed to keep the peace and civility of a neighborhood by restricting people from doing things that might reduce property value, but a true "covenant" community was once so much more!

I feel the cleansing is not far off. No one can physically prepare for things to come, though there are some things we have been asked to do that will help us. Becoming a covenant people is a vital preparation. We have no promise, if we are not serving Him.

The Overton Window

2010-07-10T17:19:00.000-07:00

I read The Overton Window while on a trip in the mountains, where distraction was at a minimum. Wow! Glenn Beck kept all the threads moving, the plot constantly full of surprises, and left the "window" wide open. The ending leaves you with a sense of hope. However, the other shoe drops when you reconsider the prologue.

I liked the Fahrenheit 451 feel of those who were trying to preserve history and freedom.

I found reading through the After Word was interesting. Reading all the different events that really did happen that were woven into the story, take this work out of the realm of pure future fiction, or even just labeling it conspiracy literature. Glenn is quick to remind us that this is fiction and the facts can be manipulated. By including the After Word he makes the reader and active participant, giving them many things to consider.

I feel that one of the biggest realizations coming from reading this book is how public relations of spin, press, and media can affect our national consciousness. Especially how what people feel is acceptable can be manipulated by the public relations of spin, press, and media. This is why I feel it is so important to be grounded in our central canon of scripture; live so we can be open to and worthy of spiritual guidance; and that we open our eyes.

When I say open our eyes, I mean we need to educate ourselves and not be stupid. Get educated about our history, and ponder it; not just American history, but world history, as well. Using original sources when we can. For instance, read the debates that went on in the forming and ratifying the Constitution, and not just a text book spin synopsis.

When it comes to current events, consider looking at several sources, including foreign sources. Though more and more, the daily news may seem to be sounding like spin and distraction, instead of being informative, we need to be aware. Yet, I do not feel that we should let this take the bulk of our time. It does not take long to glance through and sort all the distraction and fluff to find the important. Look beyond headlines and read the important buried articles and consider what else is going on that the heavy promotion of a crisis is distracting us from.

All in all, The Overton Window was a worthwhile read.

From a Veteran Home Educator

2010-07-07T21:40:00.000-07:00

I started home educating back in the 1980s. Wow, that was about a quarter of a century ago! I have watched trends come and go. I have taught at home education conferences for over a decade. I am presently going through my library, recording what I have and deciding what gets to stay for further use.

Recently, my son went on a handcart pioneer trek. His trek made me think about what if I had to leave my home? What home educations materials would I take with me in limited space?

I have seven children, and I have come to really like a few resources. Then I decided it would be a good idea to share those choice resources here for moms that are just getting started.

After thinking about resources, I thought about local places that we have enjoyed visiting. I decided to share those, as well. Then I thought about methods that I have come to like and trust.

I won't write about them every day or even write a gargantuan post. I will not just limit my post topics to resources, methods and places. These home education posts will be posted under the tag of 8. Donna's Cottage School. I will also share our home education journey here under the same tag.

Designing Woman

2010-05-31T07:23:00.000-07:00

I am contemplating the design of this blog and have broadened the welcome in my banner. I am an artist, raised by a mother who was an artist. I love landscape and still life. My forte has always been color and design. My blog should reflect who I really am.

Perhaps when I have healed more, I will spend some time on Adobe or one of our other draw programs and design a picture for my banner and a post picture to go with each label to go at the top of each post in that category.
I know I want to take and post my own pictures, and watermark them with my blog name. It will just take a little time. I love pictures and know they help people see what I am saying. I know that they will help people especially those visiting the My Hope Chest Journey and Donna's Recipe Box blog, as well. We live in such a visual world.

I do not want to do the "convenient thing" and purchase a prepackaged blog skin. Nor do I want to take generic pictures off the internet or buy the creative work of someone else. I would rather create my own blog here. When I create my own banner and label banner pictures, I will then choose new alive colors for my blog.

In my perfect world, life is full color, the words are important and pictures are too, but only secondarily. Though great pictures may grab attention, if the words do not express meaningful ideas, people won't come back.

Oh, and last thing- my profile photo will need to change, it has to go! Yet, it will stay up until I get around to it. I like living in the slow lane. I'll get to it in my own time! Today it is not high on my priority list.

Conversation With a Gentleman Farmer

2010-05-22T18:27:00.000-07:00

I have a friend who is a gentleman farmer. He stopped by today to buy our tree chipper/shredder from us. After the transaction we really had a wonderful provident living discussion. Before I share about the scope and sequence of our discussion, let me share a little about this gentleman farmer...

I will call him GF for gentleman farmer. He used to live in my neighborhood a little over a decade ago. GF had bought the house in this neighborhood and paid it off in 15 years with accelerated payments. He and his sweet wife had ten children when they moved. They kept the house as a rental. GF was forward thinking and knew that his children would soon start college and this house was within five miles of two large universities.

GF is a software engineer. The company he worked for paid him bonuses in stock options. He saw a small farm of five acres within commuting distance of his job. He sold his stock to cover taxes, tithing, and purchase the farm and home. A few years later he wanted to build a barn. He sold more stock options. He has done this with his cars and tractor. He lives debt free. They had two more children when they moved to the farm. They have no mortgage on either house, owe nothing on cars or equipment. They grow and can a lot of their own food. So, expenses are low.

He grows different things as a main crop on his acreage. He grows raspberries and black berries, as well as a huge garden. Then he plows up the field and plants a field crop. One year he wondered what would happen if he planted his stored wheat. So he did and filled his silo. This year he is growing alfalfa. I asked if he had considered community sustained agriculture. He said he takes it to the farmers market or places a small add in the paper and never has trouble selling his stuff. I asked him about heirloom varieties and he said he considered it but did not. Perhaps next year.

He has already built one green house. He discussed his plans for another. I asked if he had solar. He has one panel. We discussed ways of building the green house to give light and store heat without having to depend on outside heat sources. I asked if he had thought of using full spectrum LEDs. He had not.

We talked about how I freeze berries without rinsing and then rinse when I use. Then he talked about how the best way to make preserves is to buy berries at their peak, and process them immediately. Which is not what you get at the store. So, he takes his to the farmer's market.

Today after we sold the equipment, we engaged in conversation about living providently. H

e makes delicious whole wheat bread and so we went over the recipe. He adds lecithin to his to add the amino acid lysine, to make his bread a complete protein. So, we asked where he purchased it and he buys it by the case from the bluechip group.

We discussed the book- Alas, Babylon. One book he recommended was Carla Emery's Encyclopedia of Country Living.

Then we talked about canning. GF told us where to go to get our pressure canner's gauge checked for accuracy. Then we discussed making our own convenience foods. He cans fruits, veggies, and meats. He noticed that they store beans and soak and use them. He noted that often they do not have the time to soak the beans and just dump a can. Perhaps we could make many of our own convenience foods. He asked if I had considered canning my teriyaki sauce. I had not. I am thinking about it now. He buys his canning lids in bulk!

I make many of my own mixes. He has a commercial grade vacuum sealer. He mused about sealing those mixes in a commercial sealer. GF shared how he and two of his married daughters vacuum packed 120 lbs of chicken in a few hours.

Then we got talking about putting a recipe book together for making our own convenience foods. Better tasting, we control what goes in it, and cheaper when taking advantage of seasons, gardens, and farmer's markets... We are not talking junk food and empty calories. We were discussing components we use on a regular basis to cook from scratch. I had been pondering some freeze ahead foods including freezing bread dough. I just had not contemplated bottling and vacuum sealing in this way.

I look forward to this summer and all I want to learn and do! I am thankful for our new rhythms, the morning is for work. Gardening, preserving, making candles, making homemade soap, quilting, and more. Looks like play to me:)

Sense and Sensibility Patterns New Site

2010-05-21T21:42:00.000-07:00

I like to sew. I enjoy old fashioned whimsical clothes and I stumbled upon this site called Sense and Sensibility Patterns. They just happen to be having a relaunch of their website. They have remodeled their site and it is fabulous. During their relaunch everything is 15% off and if you blog/ twitter/ or fb about it, she will give you $5 coupon code good for a discount on shipping or future discount on pattern purchases.

Sewing is something Mary wants to learn. I started her on quilts and clothes are next. Referring to the photograph on the left, the website states- "This is my 1914 Afternoon Dress, which was inspired by an original design in a 1914 home economics textbook..." A 1914 home economics textbook? This dress reminds me of the dresses worn by the daughters of American impressionist Frank Weston Benson, in the paintings he painted of them on the summer hillside by the shore. There are other dresses I like on the site, but since this was originally designed for a home economics textbook, why not start here? Something for Mary and my Hope Chest Journey. This dress is modest, dressy, and summery. It is nice that the pattern comes with all the sizes in one.

The Daily Dozen (Scope)

2010-05-19T09:18:00.000-07:00

I have been consolidating my blogs here. The Daily Dozen was something I created over a decade ago. At the time it was posted in serial format on momculture yahoo group. Later it was presented at UHEA. I also had this as a page on my Donna's Cottage School blog and originally posted in the below format on my Donna's Journey blog 3.4/2006-

I once participated in a fitness program patterned after the Canadian Women’s Air Force program called the “Daily Dozen.” One day, I was pondering– How do I manage a large family, household duties, cultural enrichment, refinement, state attendance and content requirements, and all the things I felt were so important? Then the plan just fell out on paper. My title and plan for the Daily Dozen Home School System, were inspired by The Daily Dozen fitness program. That fitness program worked every major muscle group in the body and then added a 15-30 minute walk, to work the heart. When setting up my Daily Dozen program for home education, I wanted to work the heart (spirit), might (will), mind (intellect), and strength (physical health) of my children. So, I dovetailed as much as I could into my home school and included a lot more than academics. The Daily Dozen is not a curriculum, it is a method to provide an integrated structure, it is very flexible, and not too concrete; because over structuring can get derailed by life. The result is guilt when I feel that life changes my plans. I do not need that, with everything else! The Daily Dozen addresses the different areas of academics, family life, and a gospel study to affect the heart, might, mind, and strength of the child. Please do not use this as a schedule, or a rigid pattern. Blend as much into your daily rhythms as possible; dovetail.

Charlotte Mason and George Wythe influenced my educational ideas, in part. I find that many of Charlotte Mason’s (CM) teaching methods are perfect to fit with the DeMille’s mentorial / classics model (Thomas Jefferson Education or TJEd) of Leadership Education; especially, at the core phase (0-8 years old) and the love of learning phase (relatively 8-12 years old). When children move into the scholar phase (12-16), they will have the skills, foundation, and desire, to do much sustained study, using the 5 Pillars. The 5 Pillars are: classics, mentors, simulations, field experience, and God. The 5 pillars are concepts presented in Dr. Oliver Van DeMille’s book, A Thomas Jefferson Education: Teaching A Generation Of Leaders For The Twenty First Century. The four phases of learning are addressed in an article by Rachel DeMille; “A Thomas Jefferson Education In Our Home.” Of course, developmental benchmarks are not fixed solidly to specific ages. Gifted children may be driven to do things ahead of schedule. Others are having such a wonderful time learning, that they may want to linger in a phase.

Distraction in ones environment or relationships, can delay benchmarks. Some distractions that might delay benchmarks include: birth of a new baby, death in the family, poor nutrition, contention in the home, chaos, lack of a good core phase, lack of values, lack of work ethic, lack of self discipline, TV, and computers. On the other hand, some things might accelerate bench marks; looking up to an older sibling, giftedness, a sense of personal mission, gifts of the spirit, order, educational freedom, self discipline, a sense of worth, work ethic, etc.

C.M. uses narration (retelling) to help in the retention. TJEd. uses colloquia (discussion) to add additional depth to the student’s understanding. Both narration and colloquia help parents see how well children understand what they are studying. Both C.M. and TJEd. use classics. DeMille defines a great classic as any work that you can experience over again, and you get something out of it each time. You really do not know, if you cannot explain, to someone else, what you know.

I structured the time and broke it down into 13 areas; yes a Baker’s Dozen! I tried to incorporate as many of these areas, as possible, into a natural rhythm for our family. However, rather than stipulating the amount of content to be covered in at a given moment, I go with the focus and concentration of the children. Some days we may read and discuss, narrate a paragraph, or do one activity in an area. Other days we are on a roll and may read and discuss an entire chapter and more, or get lost in a project for hours. Each area has very minimal to very grand options within them. If we have a big day planned, out side the home, we may do minimum things in many areas, to allow us time to do the big thing. We try to catch each area every day, yet, this does not always happen. We just pick up where we left off the last time, the next time we study each area. When talking with my nine-year-old son, I asked, “What do you want to learn in home school?” He said, ” Everything!” At that point, I kept things varied.

Really, I am actually studying what interests me, and I invite them to join me. I glance at the daily dozen to bring to mind the many options we have. As my children have interests, we start moving in their direction. Lots of exposure to great ideas and hands on projects tend to kindle interest, the children’s. After all, how can one be interested in something they have never had any exposure to? Exposure is key! I find that as I share my interests, they often find things they are interested in. This year I have a daughter in core phase, a son in love of learning, a son in transition to scholar, and a daughter in the scholar phase. My daughter in the scholar phase still wants the variety of love of learning phase learning activities, but desires to be more challenged, and makes serious study plans, and works at developing her talents.

How do I keep track? I have designed a Junior Scholar Notebook, and a Personal Scholar Portfolio for that purpose. I used my computer to generate record keeping pages; each with uplifting quotes, to help us remember why we are doing things. I have done away with my traditional schedules and I use my Daily Dozen as a reminder and a tool to jog my imagination. I have record pages for planning, pages to record accomplishments that I fill in what we did in each category on a given day, and pages to write down future interests that I want to pursue. Since learning is a continuum and not a cram session, it is better to pickup where we left off, than imposing a strict, rigid, lock step, cram session style of learning schedule. Picking up where we left off is easy, I simply pencil date the page; lightly, so I can erase it later, if needed. When I follow someone else’s lesson plan, I find that my children’s unique pace is ignored and much learning is defaulted. The children keep a record of what they learn each day.

Anchoring – Devotions; scripture study, discussion, scriptural vocabulary building, hymn singing, scripture mastery, poetry/quote memorization, scripture episodes, Jubilee devotionals, Family Devotional, Sunday Gospel discussions, Church Meetings, Family Home Evenings, and church activities.

Duty Calls – Citizenship and Patriotism; pledge, song, study of patriots, quotes, and documents.

Currents In Time – Current events- your children are part of history!

It Came To Pass – History; Biographies, History, Book of Centuries, Political Geography, and Book of Nations

Wisdom In Action – Hygiene, Fitness, Nutrition, and Healthy Lifestyles

Publish It – Writing; calligraphy, copy work, correspondence, journals, family history research, personal histories, creative writing, commonplace books, writing books and articles, etc.

Simply Science – Science; nature study, gardening, astronomy, nature walks, experiments, nature notebooks, science logs, weather stations, etc. Natural Geography.

Math Matters – Math; history, manipulations, memory work, practice, life experience, and math narration (demonstrating and sharing the concepts that they have learned).

Heart Sense – Cultural Refinement; music study, art study and lessons (apprenticing me in my studio), study other cultures (and their language), refinement (or grace- etiquette and hospitality), practical arts (sewing, cooking, cleaning. etc.), poetry, literature, creative writing, drama, concerts, plays, etc.

Speaking Up – Speech; recitations and memory work, colloquia, narrations, presentations, talks, Stepping Into Character, etc.

Margins – Time and Resource Management; keeping on top of their own commitments, planning, goal getting sessions, and tracking their own money.

Family Work – Stewardships, Family Work, Family Service, Relationships,Family Council, Sunday recitals, Family game night, Family Activities.

Baker’s Dozen – Gospel Principles (on Sunday ); Core Knowledge (E.D. Hirsch), we just read it aloud to find things to spark imagination.

Do not be blown away. Like I said earlier, though we try to cover all of the bases each day, we are flexible enough to expand the time in any area or have “one minute lessons” if need be, or to choose not to cover and area, on any given day. This is a Labor day to Memorial Day schedule or 36 weeks with 1 week for Christmas and 1 week for Easter- break. I also throw in an occasional “Wild Day” and an occasional “Crazy Day.” Wild Days are for nature walks and nature studies. Crazy Days are field trip days. There is beauty in this. What can be covered, studied, and loved in 36 weeks? More than one can imagine.

“Crazy Days?” My mother taught me a valuable lesson when I was a young child. She would be leaving to go somewhere and we would ask her where she was going. She would respond, “Going crazy! Wanna come along?” I followed her to concerts, plays, the library, hiking, the beach, to museums, shopping, oil painting, to places of refinement, travel and so much more. She was full time employed and was a single mother. She still managed to enrich herself and left a legacy to her posterity a love for learning, a zest for life, and the desire to create beauty in this world. Though she is no longer with us, her lessons of life are being passed on. She showed me how to be a mentor. The foundation of my daily dozen is, that the daily dozen is what I do, not something I do to my children. I invite and encourage them along. I do not sweat it, if we do not complete all the daily dozen in a given day, learning and life are a continuum…One step at a time, one bite at a time.
My invitation to my children, “Going crazy, Wanna come along?”