Vase of Flowers, 1887

Friday August 29, 2008

You are responsible to do the best

you can with what you've got

for as long as you're able

Charles Swindoll

This is today's reading from a little calender that

sits on my window sill in the kitchen. It is such

a refreshing reading while your standing at

the sink doing your morning dishes.

REFRESH Your Soul daily meditations of peace and renewal

Simple Woman's Daybook

The Simple Woman's Daybook

August 18, 2008

Outside my window... I can see the tips of the corn stalks.

This year we planted 12 rows of corn. I say we because in

June when it was time to plant corn, I broke my thumb. I

did not know how I was going to plant my corn. After

pondering about my problem I began praying. Asking my

Lord how he was going to solve this problem. Well, a friend

from my church came over and planted 4 rows of corn, while

I sat there with my broken thumb. What a blessing. Then

my son finished planting the rest of the rows.

I am thinking...about all the ways the Lord has blessed me

this summer. It is truly amazing that He has taken me off

seizure medicine and I am able to live fully again. This was

my first summer in over 10 years that medicine has not

controled my mind.

I am thankful... for my life. I can breathe, and walk and love.

The Lord showed me LOVE.

From the kitchen...there are no pots on the stove and no dishes

in the sink. On Saturday my daughter and I made waffles.

That gave us breakfast for 3 days.

I am creating...a curriculum for the school year 2008-09.

I am wearing... a green skirt with a beige sweater.

I am reading...Isaiah 8

I am hoping... for a great school year with my daughter.

I am hearing...the quietness of the day.

One of my favorite things...is finding rest.

A few plans for the rest of the week... there are poems to be

read and music to be played and a mind to be educated. I am

so glad I am able to home educate my daughter.

It was a wonderful thing, this plant of mine.

I did not know its name, and the plant did not bloom.

All I know is that I planted something apparently as

lifeless as a grain of sand and there came forth a green and

living thing unlike the see, unlike the soil in which it stood,

unlike the air into which it grew.

No one could tell me why it grew, nor how.

It had secrets all its own, secrets that baffle the wisest men;

yet this plant was my friend.

It faded when I withheld the light, it wilted when I neglected

to give it water, it flourished when I supplied its simple needs.

One week I went away on a vacation, and when I returned the

plant was dead; and I missed it.

Although, my little plant had died so soon, it had taught me a

lesson;

and the lesson is worth while to have a plant.

"The Nature Study Idea,"

L.H. Bailey

Here is a picture thought...

These are four o' clock marbles I planted from seed.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes






Tomatoes are a fruit I grow in our garden here in New Jersey. We begin our plants from seeds that we purchase from http://www.seedsavers.org/, or http://www.seedsofchange.com/. In January we are spending time looking over our catalogs for our prized fruit. I only buy from companies that have heirloom varieties. Heirloom seeds are seeds that are handed down from one person to another. You might just be growing a plant that your great grandfather grew.





By May we are putting our first tomatoes in the ground. We try to get them in as early as we can. This year we were harvesting our first tomato by the tenth of July. The total tomato plants we put in for the year of 2008 is 150 plants.


This year I have choose to keep track of my harvest. Here is the tally so far.


Paste Tomatoes 460


Regular Tomatoes 60





We have canned 13 jars of paste tomatoes so far.

Happy Harvesting!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

August 11, 2008

Outside my window... it has gotten quite sunny since this morning. When we

got up today it was cloudy and looked like it would rain. It did rain for about

five minutes and now it is sunny and humid.

I am thinking...it will be quiet for the next couple of days as my

dearest sweetheart will be in Texas.

I am thankful... the weekend is over, as I did a lot of entertaining this past week.

It is always great to be with people, but you know when you need some down

time.

From the kitchen...the kitchen is closed today.

I am wearing... my favorite jean skirt and a striped blue and white top. My hair is

pinned up today.

I am reading...Psalms 67 thru 77 as we are studying David in my study.

I am still reading Abigail Adams as she inspires me everyday. The

Flower Farmer is another book I have been reading through.

I am hoping...for some time to write my thoughts this week. I did

not get time to write last week and I sure did miss it.

I am hearing...it is very quiet in the house as my daughter is doing her math.

Around the house... the books are still on the table as we have started

doing school work again.

One of my favorite things...is reading as it uses my brain.

A few plans for this week...Bible study is tonight, processing peaches into

preserves, Dentist appointments on Thursday, continue to harvest tomatoes.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

These are my peaches that my daughter and I went to pick

on Friday.