Lately

Sometimes, it is hard to get me to talk.  I have been so busy the last couple of weeks preparing for my new career.  The Lord has a plan for me and a plan for us.  But sometimes we have to wait.  I am in the waiting period right now I feel.  But it is good.  I felt that I clung on to the stress from a job for days and days after I left.  Not until this past Saturday did I feel as if I had begun to let go of the constant struggle within me.  Life is not all about "fitting in everything." You don't know where you might be headed until you step back and let go. 

Here's a tad of what's been going on around here. 

 Baby Room Blue

Before painting the outside.

And Afta

This is my new office... and playroom... and kitchen.  And hopefully soon full time job!

This isn't the total after picture as I was still down there painting all morning and got a little sunburned might I add.  But the place looks so much better and friendlier.  You go with what you've got!

I have managed to squeeze in a walk in the woods.  To my delightful surprise I found Fire Pinks

and skipped a rock or two. 

Don't you want to come play??

Day Care Website

Well y'all... the website for my day care is actively under construction!   You can follow along as I post the new pages and the plans that I have.  I am super excited to have kids enrolled!  I have ads placed and the word is spreading quickly.  I already have one summer enrollee that will be there after school lets out for the summer.  If you know anyone interested give me a holler!  I have very limited space for daily care. 

P.S. Don't forget about Date Nights!  Your child does not have to be enrolled in regular care here to be able to take part in Date Nights.  It is designed for parents to desire to get out alone for a change!

450 Dish Delish

I play Bunko once a month.  What is Bunko you say?  FUN!  It is a dice game, where fellowship and eating is a must.  At the last Bunko gathering, my friend Linda shared a recipe with us.  Well... some of us that were listening.  I HAD to try it and am so glad that I did.

Here was my version of the dish.  You can use practically any vegetable and any meat that you want.  You simply heat the oven to 450 degrees.  Once it has preheated nicely, place your casserole dish in the oven to heat for 15 minutes.  While the dish is heating you prepare your vegetables and meat.

I tossed chopped broccoli, cauliflower and onion wedges in olive oil (which is a must) and spices.  I used Butt Rub, sea salt and pepper.  Next prepare the meat in the same way.  She said you don't actually have to oil up the meat but I did a little anyway.  I mixed a little olive oil with a little melted butter and lemon juice and added spices to it too. 

Once the dish is heated, remove it from the stove carefully because it is HOT.  Throw in the veggies and scoot them to the sides.  Then place the fish or meat right in the center.  The veggies will sizzle the second they hit the hot dish.  Place the meal back into the oven for fifteen minutes. 

I prepared rice to go on the side but really.. this is a one dish meal!  And terrific to boot!  Since then I have made it with deer tenderloin, green beans and potatoes.  The potatoes and deer meat did take longer than fifteen minutes as I imagine a thicker cut of most meats may.  Just watch it closely when the end of the timer is near.  Enjoy!

Toss with spices and olive oil. 

I promise this entire meal cost under four dollars. 

Mainly because I swiped the rest of the raw veggies from the veggie tray at Easter lunch.

 Roll that beautiful Butt Rub footage. 

 Sizzle Sizzle, Dot Dot

 Oh Yeah

 Tell me 'bout it... stud.

So good.  I am here to tell you.

By the way... here's a tip.  You know those wood bees that look like bumble bees but can't sting you?  Well, if you squirt WD-40 in the hole they are drilling into the side of your house, or your walking stick, or door frame,  or wooden bench on the front porch, it'll kill them.  I am currently listening to one buzz for his life in the door frame behind me.  I feel real bad.. seriously.  If I don't kill him he's going to drill right through.  I've been listening too him scratch away at the door frame for too long.  Silly bee.  I can't listen any longer.  I mean really... pick a tree for crying out loud!  Not my house! 

And that's the truth PPPPPPPHHHHHHHHHHHHLLLLLLLLLLLLL

He stopped buzzing.  I think I'll go reclaim my walking stick now.

All in a Lucky Day's Work

I have been steadily working on the day care since last week.  It is coming together nicely and I am ready for chitlins!  Last Friday... lucky 13.. was lucky indeed!

First good yard sale of the year began with a dinner bell ringing to let everyone in!

A line of people at the estate sale.

 I came away with one of my favorite authors! I almost jumped over a lady to get to this book!

 Shaun found this in Lake Hulsey.  We have a ton and a half of topsoil for sale!

And we got four eggs in one day!  Sweet chickens... bad rooster!  I got flogged again but apparently I won... we will leave out the details.  Let's just say he is keeping his distance from me now that I carry a big stick with me.

I hardly ever find anything cheap enough for my likings on the clearance aisle at WalMart until today.  I am so excited that my 2012 canning season will have it's own identity.

P.S. Keep watch here... I have a canning give away in the works!

Sleepin' Bear Antique Tractor Plow Day

Saturday, April 7th, my father-in-law, Gary put together the second annual Antique Tractor Plow Day at Sleepin' Bear Lodge and Farms.  Which is located right next door to us.  My Granddaddy popped by that morning and I wound up dragging him over there with me ( which actually took no coaxing!)  We had such a good time.  He really enjoyed seeing all the old tractors and antique tools. 

This first video features a lovely gal that you just might recognize.  What a hick! 

DC Wall Decor

The first day at my new job.... ahhh. I spent more than eight hours at the day care today. I painted, put down contact paper, put a bed together, did two loads of laundry, separated craft supplies and organized. What fun! This has been a project that I have been working on for months now. But today it began to seem real. And kinda like a Saturday.

Here is one piece of wall decor that look just minutes to do. It is something I will use daily with the kiddos to display artwork, colorings and let paintings dry. I am a huge fan of my outdoor clothesline and I desperately wanted one indoors as a display piece. I really wanted it to swag down from the ceiling from one end of the room to the other! This toned my excitement down a bit. I do love it though. I had to have the first piece of artwork to hang! Which allowed me to break out the crayons and craft paper.

I am truly loving this and cannot wait to share the fun with kids.

This is really simple. I bought some clothesline from the dollar store for... one dollar. I used a total of four long screws and strung ten clothespins painted green that were left overs from a Christmas card wreath that I made several years ago. Here's the final product!

I am working on the website for the day care that will hopefully be up and running soon!

Let The Days Begin

Let the days begin.  Crispy, crunchy, scratchy bath towel days.  It is just before eight a.m..  The grass is still wet.  It is a cool thirty seven degrees.  Today's forecast promises seventy degrees and I am hanging towels on the clothesline.  Waiting for the sheets to wash so I can head to the grocery.  I always feel that the Amish have beaten me while I am clipping damp wash cloths to our line.  That their dark blue and black laundry has already been on their clotheslines for an hour.  I admire those women almost enviously for their laundry chores and yet am just as grateful to the same Lord for my clothesline chores as they are for theirs. 

Seventy and sunny with a slight breeze.  We share it.  A beautiful day.  Easter lunch will be held at our house tomorrow.  I have household chores to do, groceries to buy, our garden canned green beans in the crock pot, and an antique tractor show and plow day next door.  Come on by.  I'll have time for lemonade on the porch sometime.

The Dealio

Hello friends.  Well... here's the dealio.  I officially have one week left at my job.  I have been at a desk job for almost twenty years despite my heart's desires.  Funny how it works that way.  Finally my life has found an extremely supportive partner in life that has been a huge influence in allowing me to take a different direction.  No.. I am not retiring.  But I am changing paths in a direction that will allow me to use my God-given talents in a way that I have been longing for.  Self-employment is my key here.  I have been working towards this goal for years only in my mind but in reality since November.  The Lord has given me the ultimate opportunity to step away, stand up and have some fun.  My new position will certainly have it's ups and downs and uber responsibilities.  But I will be working with God's most special gifts and learning, teaching and encouraging the minds of children and I absolutely cannot wait and am incredibly thankful for the path I am walking... finally.  Pray for us please. 

I always dreamed that I would be a Mother by now.  Thirty Eight has gotten here quickly.  But if I am not meant to have children of my own I plan to be the best influence that I can be to other families little blessings.  Maybe I still will have children of my own.  That is yet to be seen.  For now I am simply answering a call.  The cards are on the table and I am totally in the game.  Weehoo... I can't wait!

Lately, I have been enjoying the most fantastic Spring I can remember.  Still watching and waiting for Summer birds to arrive and blackberries to bloom.  I have a feeling it will be a long Summer and I will take it!  I took a week of vacation from work and worked my tail off at the day care and still have a list to do down there.  The garden has been plowed, seeds started and we are getting three eggs a day now! 

Sneak Peek!

 Sweet Dot

 Paintings to go up for sale on my etsy sight soon.

 The fence arrived yesterday!  I almost pee'd my pants!

 Seed starting amazes me.  This is Dill.  Planted Sunday.  2.5 days ago.

 These are Portulaca.  A first for me starting from seed.  Two days in.

 Basil... two days in.

 Violets on a Sunday woods walk.