Little Women Treasures: May 2008

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Our Memorial Day

We enjoyed a day picnicking with dear friends from a sister church, and spending time in remembrance of those who gave their lives for our country.

Good New, Bad News

The good news: we don't deal with termites like my family that lives in the south.

The bad news: we do deal with carpenter ants that cause havoc.

What kind of damage do they do? They walk away with your check in order to help you stimulate the economy!

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Who knew? I was looking for an oat bran bread recipe that I remembered from a Bob's Red Mill oat bran box, so I went to the company's website. What a gold mine! I also visited other company's sites whose products grace my kitchen shelves and freezer. I hope you have fun like I did........
Arrowshead Mills
Bob's Red Mill
Hodgson Mills

Thursday, May 22, 2008

I enjoying blogging for different reasons. Sometimes I am wanting to read about what other homeschool moms are doing. Sometimes I am looking for decorating, meal or fugal living ideas. Sometimes I need spiritual guidance and inspiration. And then sometimes I just want to see lovely, calming pictures.

Some blogs inspire me, as Edith Schaeffer puts it, to "Find hidden art in the 'minor' areas of life." Here are a few examples:

Meridith at Like Merchant Ships gives wonderful homemaking and frugal living tips. She can make a P/J sandwich look like a gourmet dish!

Hannah at Cultivating Home is a friend who actually started me in the direction of blogging. Her photography skills can make an old tin can on the side of the road look like a piece of art. She helped two of my own daughters with photography lessons too. With pictures of a new baby and updates on her other four cutie children (that my Abigail loves to play with), who could not resist visiting there from time to time.

Kelli at There's No Place Like Home sponsors "Show and Tell Friday." Although I have not participated in the fun for several months , I enjoy spending time at her blog

Janel at Pearls is a fellow Frugal Hack who also loves quotes from C.S. Lewis.

The Nester at The Nesting Place is a mom with 3 boys who makes things in her house so lovely.

I'll continue listing favorites since a number of people have contacted me asking what blogs I frequent. Happy blogging.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Renovations......

on the tree house

Tom's making a tree house roof using slats from a gate being thrown away. That means no trips to Lowe's this afternoon! I have been there approximately 10-12 times this past week. I hope they don't worry about me since they've only seen me once today.

Walking for Life....

.......and the CareNet Pregnancy Center

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

2 Days, 15 Hours

Who's counting? Everyone in my house.

Snapshots of Our Work at the Food Bank

First Time For Everything: Floor Refinishing

FRIDAY, MAY 12:

9:00 am- Cindy and girls begin moving everything out of the master bedroom. Cindy packs 2 days worth of clothes and prepares for sleeping in the living room. Abby moves to her sisters' bedroom, since her room will be PACKED with furniture and other items from Mom and Dad's bedroom.

10:00 am- Cindy decides that since the closet is empty it really should be painted. The daughters are obliging.

12:45 pm- Tom takes off work

2:00 pm- Tom and Cindy go to Lowe's to rent sander and buy supplies

3:00 pm-Tom begins sanding.

3:30 pm- Cindy makes second trip to Lowe's

4:00 pm- Tom briefly allows Cindy to use sander- not that she wants the job but she really wants to give it a try.

5:00 pm- Cindy makes yet another trip to Lowe's for other reasons. FLOWERS

8:00 pm- Sanding and clean-up is complete.

SATURDAY, MAY 13:

8:00 am- Tom reads the can of polyurethane. This is a different brand from the one picked out 3 days previously. It does not take 6 hours for the first coat to dry, but 12 hours! The second coat cannot go on until 9:00pm.

8:01 am- Tom continues to read can. It is not a 24 hour waiting period after the second coat, but a 3 day wait!

8:02 am- Cindy stifles screams.

8:05 am- Tom and Cindy begin first coat of polyurethane,

9:00 am- The 12 hour wait begins.

9:00 pm- Still not dry

10:00 pm- Still not dry

11:00 pm- Still not dry

12:00 midnight- Still not dry

SUNDAY, MAY 12:

3:30 am- Tom gets up to begin hand sanding the floor.

3:45 am- Cindy hears Tom sanding the floor but takes 15 minutes to get up.

4:00 am- Tom and Cindy sand in their pajamas .

5:00 am- Cindy puts on coffee. Second coat of polyurethane goes on.

TUESDAY, MAY 13

7:00 pm- Bed goes back into bedroom. YEAH!!!!

Friday, May 9, 2008

Happy Mother's Day Mrs. Duggar

Congratulations! She made the big announcement on the Today Show this morning- baby #18 is on its way!

Saturday, May 3, 2008

C.S. Lewis Quote

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... it has no survival value; rather is one of those things that give value to survival.

Opening Day

Abby joined the community softball league.... the girl has an arm!!! It was a cold and windy opening ceremony.

The first game is next week. More exciting details to follow.

Our Friday......

Victorian Tea Party By Day............

It was the last day of our homeschool co-op, and my Ladies of the Nineteenth Century class had a tea party.

Victorian parlor games

Sqare Dancing by Night.........

Family fun on a cold, rainy Friday night.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

It Was Too Good To Be True

I planted this Rhododendron bush 4 years ago. The first year it grew about a foot but had no buds. The same thing happened the second year. Last year it was covered in buds that turned brown and died. I was ready to uproot this annoying bush, but my mother-in-law assured me it needed another year. Sure enough! On Sunday it was LOADED with beautiful blossoms. It did my heart good to look out the kitchen door and see bright pink in the back yard. Then, last night brought cold temperatures and a heavy frost. I never thought I needed to cover my Rhododendron! It was a sad way to learn that gardening lesson. I do get better at this every year.