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Tuesday, October 30, 2007
House Cleaning and Making Soap
I remember the days when I got my whole house cleaned in about 2 hours with energy to spare. Now it takes me about two hours, with the help of my daughter, and I'm worn out the rest of the day! Do you suppose it could be that the house has gotten bigger over the years or that I'm getting older and slower?? No matter -- my house is sparkling clean! The best part to me is when you're all done and you can stand back, look at the shiny clean surfaces, and feel a great sense of satisfaction.
I got a new toy yesterday! A soap cutter! This little baby is all stainless steel and will cut a perfect 1" bar of soap. I can't cut straight for the life of me. My bars of soap end up being bigger on one end or are all cockeyed. My new toy will alleviate that problem! And it will get good use in the next week or so as I have about 10 batches to do to get ready for a bazaar I'm in on December 1st. Plus lotion bars, milk bath, room spray, and anything else that I can fit in! Good thing I got the house cleaned because I don't here will be much of that going on until after the bazaar.
When I make soap I'm like a little kid on Christmas morning. I get all done mixing and pour it in the mold, cover it, and then try to wait. Last night before I went to bed I just had to take a peek to see what was going on under that blanket on my dining room table. It was still very hot but was in the gel phase so I knew that things were going as they should. This morning I had to take another peek. The soap was much cooler and starting to look solid. When I get home tonight I'll probably be able to unmold it and then use my new cutter. I can hardly wait! This batch is oatmeal, milk & honey and smells sooooo good! I'll post pictures tomorrow.
I got a new toy yesterday! A soap cutter! This little baby is all stainless steel and will cut a perfect 1" bar of soap. I can't cut straight for the life of me. My bars of soap end up being bigger on one end or are all cockeyed. My new toy will alleviate that problem! And it will get good use in the next week or so as I have about 10 batches to do to get ready for a bazaar I'm in on December 1st. Plus lotion bars, milk bath, room spray, and anything else that I can fit in! Good thing I got the house cleaned because I don't here will be much of that going on until after the bazaar.
When I make soap I'm like a little kid on Christmas morning. I get all done mixing and pour it in the mold, cover it, and then try to wait. Last night before I went to bed I just had to take a peek to see what was going on under that blanket on my dining room table. It was still very hot but was in the gel phase so I knew that things were going as they should. This morning I had to take another peek. The soap was much cooler and starting to look solid. When I get home tonight I'll probably be able to unmold it and then use my new cutter. I can hardly wait! This batch is oatmeal, milk & honey and smells sooooo good! I'll post pictures tomorrow.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Full Moon
It is a full moon tonight! The closest that the moon will be to the earth and the largest moon in 2007 -- the Hunter's Moon. As I was driving home from work tonight I could see this beautiful white moon in the sky and it wasn't even dark yet.I did not take this picture -- it's one I found on the internet. The real moon in my SW WA sky is much more beautiful tonight. It shines it's bright light across the Fall landscape. There is a slight wind tonight and the leaves dance across the big empty field in front of my house highlighted by the moonlight.
As the dark evening progresses I can watch this moon as it moves across the sky. If I look out my back door about 11 PM it will be visible behind my house and shining brightly into the woods and across the back field. If I turn off all the lights in the house I have moonlight dancing across my kitchen floor as the light comes through the skylight.
If you can, go peek out your door tonight. See this beautiful moon that God created just for our pleasure and to light out way on a dark Fall evening.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Cuddly Pink Socks
Someone lovely visited my blog -- she lives on Stover Lane. Her blog is also called Stover Lane . This sweet lady randomly found my blog on the day I had posted about the song "It Is Well With My Soul". On that day she needed to read the words of that song -- God led her here for that very reason! And in His divine way God led both of us to visit sweet Jayedee's blog --Life In The Lost World. Jayedee recently hosted a sock swap and, as we signed up for the swap, we were paired with a partner. Darlene and I were partners for the sock swap!! What are the chances of that happening -- another God thing! We were both so excited when we realized that. But not as excited as I was when I went to the mailbox yesterday to find these cuddly, pink socks. Have I mentioned that pink is my favorite color?? I also got a red rhinestone encrusted writing pen!! How cool is that?? Perfect for when my diva side emerges! I love everything!! Darlene, you are the best!
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
My Sister Wants Fame
I have one sister who is three years younger than me. Her name is Diana and she is lucky enough to still live in our hometown -- although she doesn't see it that way! Guess the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. She lives there and wishes she didn't. I live out here in WA and wish I lived there! She keeps emailing me and telling me to mention her in my blog. Here you go sweetie -- you got your wish!
Diana is a late bloomer. While the rest of us have been on the internet for a long time, Diana is just dipping her toes into the "virtual water". It is great because now I get email from her! I sent her a link to my blog, which she just loves, and is now thinking of starting her own blog. Now if I could just get her to figure out eBay she'd be all set!
My growing up years with Diana were interesting, to say the least. Diana likes girly things now but as a child she was the tom boy. I was the "diva" as she likes to call me. I was the one who wanted to stay in the house, play with dolls, paint my fingernails, and not get dirty.
Our daddy was a blacksmith by trade. He had a shop that had a dirt floor. When Diana was a pre-schooler, and Mother worked, Daddy would take Diana to the shop with him. Diana would spend the day playing on the dirt floor. By the time she came home she would be black with dirt -- all you could see were her eyes. I, being the diva, did not want to be near her or touch her when she was covered in all that dirt. She would know that and make every effort to get near me, touch me, and chase me around threatening to touch me.
Diana is the baby of the family. To say that my sister was spoiled -- well I'll be nice. She was the cutest child -- one of those chubby little kids that you just wanted to squeeze! She had hair so blond it looked white, big blue eyes, and everyone was just enamored with her. She was quite good at throwing tantrums to try and get her way (she usually succeeded). Every year on the first day of school Mother would take us out in the side yard to get a picture. One other school tradition that Mother had was giving us home permanents. I don't think there's one first day of school picture where we didn't have fuzzy hair! I was in the third grade and Diana was starting kindergarten. I don't remember exactly what Diana got mad about but she was having no part of the picture taking for some reason. Mother begged and begged her to have her picture taken. Just about the time that Mother got ready to snap the picture Diana turned her back! So we have this nice first day of school picture with me facing the camera and Diana standing with her back turned and her arms folded across her chest!
My sister and I always fought like cats and dogs. We spent most of our childhood and our adult years being angry or jealous of each other. Then in 2003, when my dad passed away, something changed. As we were leaving the funeral dinner my sister looked at my brother and I and said "Please don't forget me. Please don't lose touch with me." Both of our parents were gone now and we realized that the three of us were all that was left. At that very moment I felt God saying to me "you need to change your attitude towards your sister." All the years of anger and jealousy melted away. I was determined to have a close relationship with my sister for the rest of our lives and try to make up for lost time. She needs me and I need her. After God, our families are the most important things that we have. I love my sister very deeply and am so grateful that we are now friends.
A special note to my dear sister because I know you're going to read this. I love you with all my heart and am so glad that you're in my life!
Diana is a late bloomer. While the rest of us have been on the internet for a long time, Diana is just dipping her toes into the "virtual water". It is great because now I get email from her! I sent her a link to my blog, which she just loves, and is now thinking of starting her own blog. Now if I could just get her to figure out eBay she'd be all set!
My growing up years with Diana were interesting, to say the least. Diana likes girly things now but as a child she was the tom boy. I was the "diva" as she likes to call me. I was the one who wanted to stay in the house, play with dolls, paint my fingernails, and not get dirty.
Our daddy was a blacksmith by trade. He had a shop that had a dirt floor. When Diana was a pre-schooler, and Mother worked, Daddy would take Diana to the shop with him. Diana would spend the day playing on the dirt floor. By the time she came home she would be black with dirt -- all you could see were her eyes. I, being the diva, did not want to be near her or touch her when she was covered in all that dirt. She would know that and make every effort to get near me, touch me, and chase me around threatening to touch me.
Diana is the baby of the family. To say that my sister was spoiled -- well I'll be nice. She was the cutest child -- one of those chubby little kids that you just wanted to squeeze! She had hair so blond it looked white, big blue eyes, and everyone was just enamored with her. She was quite good at throwing tantrums to try and get her way (she usually succeeded). Every year on the first day of school Mother would take us out in the side yard to get a picture. One other school tradition that Mother had was giving us home permanents. I don't think there's one first day of school picture where we didn't have fuzzy hair! I was in the third grade and Diana was starting kindergarten. I don't remember exactly what Diana got mad about but she was having no part of the picture taking for some reason. Mother begged and begged her to have her picture taken. Just about the time that Mother got ready to snap the picture Diana turned her back! So we have this nice first day of school picture with me facing the camera and Diana standing with her back turned and her arms folded across her chest!
My sister and I always fought like cats and dogs. We spent most of our childhood and our adult years being angry or jealous of each other. Then in 2003, when my dad passed away, something changed. As we were leaving the funeral dinner my sister looked at my brother and I and said "Please don't forget me. Please don't lose touch with me." Both of our parents were gone now and we realized that the three of us were all that was left. At that very moment I felt God saying to me "you need to change your attitude towards your sister." All the years of anger and jealousy melted away. I was determined to have a close relationship with my sister for the rest of our lives and try to make up for lost time. She needs me and I need her. After God, our families are the most important things that we have. I love my sister very deeply and am so grateful that we are now friends.
A special note to my dear sister because I know you're going to read this. I love you with all my heart and am so glad that you're in my life!
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Autumn Memories
When I was a small girl growing up in Illinois we had a very large yard with lots and lots of big trees. In the Fall the yard would be full of fallen leaves. It was a family affair for all of us to help rake leaves. We'd work part of the day raking huge piles of leaves in the yard. Then my sweet daddy would let my sister and I (and any neighborhood kids) play in the leaves. What a time we'd have making tunnels in the piles, running and jumping in them, building forts and having pretend wars.
After we were all done playing Daddy would have to start raking again! But he never complained about it -- he enjoyed seeing us have so much fun. Then, as it would come on late afternoon, the leaves got moved to the ditch by our house to be burned. How much fun that was! Daddy would start the fires and then we'd ride our bikes in the street through the smoke. The smell of burning leaves was wonderful!
There are so few places that will let you burn leaves anymore. Too worried about air pollution or some such thing. Four years ago I made a trip back home in October. It had been many years since I'd been home in the Fall. I was driving through the little town I grew up in and smelled this very familiar scent. Someone was actually burning leaves! I had to drive down the street until I could find where they were burning. The sight and the smell brought back a wonderful flood of childhood memories!
After we were all done playing Daddy would have to start raking again! But he never complained about it -- he enjoyed seeing us have so much fun. Then, as it would come on late afternoon, the leaves got moved to the ditch by our house to be burned. How much fun that was! Daddy would start the fires and then we'd ride our bikes in the street through the smoke. The smell of burning leaves was wonderful!
There are so few places that will let you burn leaves anymore. Too worried about air pollution or some such thing. Four years ago I made a trip back home in October. It had been many years since I'd been home in the Fall. I was driving through the little town I grew up in and smelled this very familiar scent. Someone was actually burning leaves! I had to drive down the street until I could find where they were burning. The sight and the smell brought back a wonderful flood of childhood memories!
Friday, October 12, 2007
Church In The Car
I love Friday!! It's my last day of work for three whole days. I get to be at home taking care of my house, being with my Stephany, and maybe even cooking or baking. I was feeling especially cheerful about Friday and decided to treat myself to a Revved Up Frozen Mocha coffee drink on the way. Of course, I have my favorite station I have to go to and it is a little out of my way. But that's ok -- I decided to take the scenic route home and enjoy my mocha.
I'm driving along, listening to the local Christian music station, and enjoying my drink. Several good songs came on -- "Amazing Grace" (a new arrangement that is wonderful -- sorry I can't remember the artist) and then "Shackles". Well that one really got me going because it is gospel -- happy, hand clappin, foot stompin gospel!! Driving, singing to my Lord, raising one hand in praise (I kept the other on the wheel), and feeling so blessed! The Holy Spirit was in the passenger's seat and we were having church!!! What a wonderful way to start my weekend.
I'm driving along, listening to the local Christian music station, and enjoying my drink. Several good songs came on -- "Amazing Grace" (a new arrangement that is wonderful -- sorry I can't remember the artist) and then "Shackles". Well that one really got me going because it is gospel -- happy, hand clappin, foot stompin gospel!! Driving, singing to my Lord, raising one hand in praise (I kept the other on the wheel), and feeling so blessed! The Holy Spirit was in the passenger's seat and we were having church!!! What a wonderful way to start my weekend.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Away Too Long
Eight days is way too long to be away from my blog! Don't exactly know what kept me away. I haven't been that busy but still trying to get over this flu. I'm feeling fine but can't get rid of the cough. By the time the work week is over I'm dragging.
Last Sunday and Monday I didn't get dressed until way late in the afternoon. I was really lazy both days and I don't like it when I'm like that. Then Monday night I had to start playing catch up with the laundry, picking up the house, etc.
Fall is finally here in all its glory! The leaves are turning and starting to fall off the trees. We had rain for about two weeks straight but it has been dry for the past two days. And by Sunday it's supposed to be 70. That will be the perfect day to go for a walk and enjoy the outdoors. It rains so much here in the winter that we have to take advantage of every dry day we can.
Hope you all are enjoying the wonderful Fall days! God bless!
Last Sunday and Monday I didn't get dressed until way late in the afternoon. I was really lazy both days and I don't like it when I'm like that. Then Monday night I had to start playing catch up with the laundry, picking up the house, etc.
Fall is finally here in all its glory! The leaves are turning and starting to fall off the trees. We had rain for about two weeks straight but it has been dry for the past two days. And by Sunday it's supposed to be 70. That will be the perfect day to go for a walk and enjoy the outdoors. It rains so much here in the winter that we have to take advantage of every dry day we can.
Hope you all are enjoying the wonderful Fall days! God bless!
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Wednesday
I had the day off again today. I just can't seem to get over this flu bug. The congestion just keeps hanging on. I went to the doctor and finally got some antibiotics. Hope that by the weekend I'm feeling better.
I started an online accounting class about three weeks ago. It's something I've been wanting to do forever. It's wonderful to be able to go to class in my pj's if need be! I've kept books for years but always on computer software. With this class I'm learning how to do books by hand and it sure helps you to learn the "why" of accounting. I got behind on one lesson when I was sick so had to get that made up today and take the quiz. Then the regular lesson was ready today so I worked on that tonight and took the quiz. I had two hours of homework today!
My beloved Chicago Cubs are in the playoffs! Tonight was the first game and they lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks. I have been a Cub fan my whole life. And that means I have suffered through every season my whole life. They have not been in a World Series game since 1945 and have not won a World Series since 1908!! If you're a Cub fan you're familiar with the saying "There's always next year." Could this be that "next year"? I hope with all my heart!!! But I suffered so through this first game that I don't know what I'll do if they actually make it to the Series. Another game tomorrow night -- I'm praying for a win!
Better get to bed. It's back to work tomorrow for this gal!
I started an online accounting class about three weeks ago. It's something I've been wanting to do forever. It's wonderful to be able to go to class in my pj's if need be! I've kept books for years but always on computer software. With this class I'm learning how to do books by hand and it sure helps you to learn the "why" of accounting. I got behind on one lesson when I was sick so had to get that made up today and take the quiz. Then the regular lesson was ready today so I worked on that tonight and took the quiz. I had two hours of homework today!
My beloved Chicago Cubs are in the playoffs! Tonight was the first game and they lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks. I have been a Cub fan my whole life. And that means I have suffered through every season my whole life. They have not been in a World Series game since 1945 and have not won a World Series since 1908!! If you're a Cub fan you're familiar with the saying "There's always next year." Could this be that "next year"? I hope with all my heart!!! But I suffered so through this first game that I don't know what I'll do if they actually make it to the Series. Another game tomorrow night -- I'm praying for a win!
Better get to bed. It's back to work tomorrow for this gal!
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Hi Honey! I'm Home!
If you went to visit me at WordPress you probably read that I'm moving back here! I apologize for all the confusion. I wanted to try something new. I did that by moving my blog to WordPress but it just never felt right to me.
So I've moved back home to Blogger and that's where I'm staying. It's the last move -- I promise!!!
Hugs,
Kay
So I've moved back home to Blogger and that's where I'm staying. It's the last move -- I promise!!!
Hugs,
Kay
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