Tuesday, August 21, 2012

A Simple Woman's Daybook



from Mama Bear's Journal

FOR TODAY...Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Outside my window...the sun is shinning, its 72°F, 22°C, and expected to reach 87 today,with a low tonight of 59.....we've had low humidity and the mornings and late afternoons have been lovely for sitting outdoors...the Maple is beginning to show some changes in color...Crepe Myrtles are still blooming....no rain in the forecast but we had about two inches this month already....The Butterfly Bush has lots of blooms and the Hummingbirds love it....I saw 3 at once this morning.....

I am thinking...Fall can't be too far off now...

I am thankful...our pastor is able to return to church now, although he is still not able to bring the message......for cooler weather.......

From the kitchen...there's a beef roast with onions and potatoes in the crockpot and there will be fried okra and green peas to serve with it...

I am wearing...woops! you caught me in my pjs again

I am creating...
I'm making progress on this cross stitch....see daybook on August 7th....

I am going...nowhere for a few days

One year ago today...It was much hotter....needed a new stove....reading Ford County....had started Bible Study....we were still getting tomatoes from the garden....Honey Bear was still working in Memphis during the week....I had been tracking my food for 3 weeks and had lost 6 pounds....Daughter and I saw "The Help" at the movies

I am wondering...why I'm sleeping past 7am the last two days.........how the first day of school was yesterday for our grandchildren here...

These days I'm reading...These is My Words (still) at bedtime and will begin Stephen King's "11/23/63" today

I am praying...for our pastor...for our country, its leaders, our men in uniform....my Honey Bear, my children and grandchildren...others

From the garden...Okra and Strawberries.....we're still eating the potatoes and onions harvested earlier......Honey Bear planted Spinach and Lettuce yesterday

I remember when...Doctors made house calls because most families had only one car and it was used by the Daddy to get to work and back...Mamas stayed home with the children.

Concerned about....false reporting

I am looking forward to...College Football......Fall vacation in October

A verse for today...Ruth 1:16...for wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.


Discovering that....Quality time is better than Quantity time

I am hearing...the hum of the fans, Blue Jays chattering, a plane high overhead

Around the house...Smokey is sleeping on his window seat....

Song that stays on my mind...Great is thy faithfulness

A favorite quote for today..."Just living is not enough," said the butterfly. "One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower." ....Hans Christian Anderson

One of my favorite things...Early mornings on the porch with a cup of coffee and bird song

A few plans for the rest of the week:Lunch and a movie at a friend's house with my club members on Friday (she has her own theater)....

From my photo file....

One morning last week, while sitting at the breakfast table, I took this photo....he's inside the opening where our water fall begins.....


Thanks to Peggy for hosting this blog hop each week .

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

A Simple Woman's Daybook



From Mama Bear's Journal...

FOR TODAY...Tuesday, August 14, 2012, 9:00 am

Outside my window...It is cloudy and overcast,  72°F,  22°C,  with a predicted high of 85 and a low of 66 (I'm loving these temperatures)....the porch is still wet from the 0.7 inch of rain we had yesterday afternoon...Hummingbirds are fighting over the feeder, one of them has a guard station on a limb of the Maple Tree which I can see from where I sit....Mandevilla, Zinnias and Petunias bloom in pots on the porch... 

I am thinking...that maybe I've overdone this morning because I'm still not feeling in top form...

I am thankful...for my computer (writing brings me joy), for my friends online (I'm always talking about you to Honey Bear), for fresh veggies, and most of all for the cooler temperatures and lower humidity in the late afternoon....

From the kitchen... Chicken Tenders, Baked Potato and Slaw are on the menu tonight

I am wearing...white knit pants and a navy and white, boat neck tee with 3/4 sleeves.....fooled you didn't I, you thought I would say pajamas again....

From the garden this week....Okra, Onions, Potatoes, Strawberries, Watermelon, and Butter Beans..........also a squash occasionally which adds up to enough to cook every other week...........pepper to freeze...........Honey Bear is getting ready to plant Spinach and Lettuce for a Fall crop....

I am creating...No photos this week but I am still working on the same cross stitch and will be for many months.......I'm also doing embroidery on a strip of linen for a pin cushion...

I am going...to stay home today unless the Princess calls and wants to come over....

I am wondering...if the Princess will come spend the day.....she didn't come last week but I spent the day with her and her mother on Thursday...school starts on the 20th and she will ride the bus over one day a week then....

These days I'm reading...These is my Words (still, at bedtime) and Heartwood by Belva Plain, a return to Evergreen

I am praying...to soon feel normal, whatever that is.........for others on my prayer list

I remember when...it was exciting to have new clothes to wear to school as well as new notebooks, etc.....

I am looking forward to...All the things which make Fall my favorite season

A verse for today...Philippians 2:3.."In lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself."

Discovering that....time can be a precious commodity 

I am hearing...the dryer........clocks ticking.........fans whirring.....Blue Jays chattering.......some kind of equipment in the distance

Around the house...Honey Bear helped me put a new dust ruffle on the bed yesterday as well as fresh linens, I added the comforter and will take the summer bedspread to the cleaners to be laundered......I hung another of his paintings in the living room, this one of a Heron...I have pictures that need to be hung in the Guest room and studio...........the carpet could use a vacuum but I'm not quite energetic enough to do that yet...(I'm thankful Honey Bear has been going to and from the garden through the garage so as not to track in too much......I've got the doors open to let in the light from outside......

Pondering these words..."Silence is Golden"

A favorite quote for today..."Lord, Grant me a heart of compassion. So burdened for other's needs, that I will show them Your mercy in attitudes, words and deeds." -Fitzhugh

One of my favorite things...A chicken Caesar Salad

A few plans for the rest of the week: Nothing much planned...there is an event tomorrow in Dekalb County some of our club members are going to and a meeting on Thursday to work on plans for the State Conference but I'm not sure I'll feel well enough to do either so I'm not planning on attending.

From my photo file....

visit Peggy at The Simple Woman for more daybooks.......

Monday, August 13, 2012

Monday Quiz About Me



1. How was your weekend? 
Unfortunately, I was sick for most of it........it was cooler outside for the bit I was able to be out.

2. What is your favorite kind of candy?
Hershey's Kisses is a favorite but really, I like most candy....I'm a big fan of Sweet Tarts and Jelly Beans, too.

3. If I say the word 'high' what do you think? 
Summertime Temperatures and Humidity


4. What are you most looking forward to about Autumn?
Cooler Weather followed by Football....then the colors

Thanks to Heather for hosting each week.


Saturday, August 11, 2012

Green Day


I'm linking up with Fiona today.
Actually, this blog hop is on Friday but its okay if you want to post
on Saturday like me.

The object of the link up
is to post a photograph of something green.
The photos can be of anything you like
once they have a green theme,
green fields, pretty green things, green clothes, 
green leaves, green foods,
anything at all that takes your fancy!
I hope that you will join in the fun.




Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Follow your Heart to Hodgepodge Volume #88
brought to you by the lovely, Joyce, 
I turned on my computer, thinking it was Thursday, wondering what I could post about....then began reading the blogs I follow and saw this little button......Oh, it's Wednesday, isn't it.....I've not done this in a couple of weeks and I've missed it so here are the questions and my answers....join in if you've a mind to.

1. In an effort to combat obesity, the mayor of NYC has plans to ban the sale of large sugary drinks (anything over 16 oz.), initially in restaurants, movie theatres, and street carts. Corner stores would also be affected if they are defined as food service establishments. You can read more here . Your thoughts? Losing weight or Dieting is a personal battle which takes will power and determination...a lifestyle change if you will......I'm not sure this will have any effect on obesity....A person has a choice, after all, whether to order a super size or not.....I'm not as disciplined as I should be, however, I usually drink water when dining out. Its certainly cheaper and is calorie free...if I do have a soda, its always sugar free.

2. Art festival, music festival, food festival...which would you most like to attend?
Art Festival

3. What are you irrational about?
?????

4. Do you feel confident you'll have a comfortable retirement?
I suppose it depends on your idea of comfort.....although we have never had to be concerned about being able to pay our bills or have food to eat, we wouldn't be considered wealthy.....Many of my acquaintances are much more so than we are......Honey Bear has retired and we are able to take care of our needs with his Social Security and a small pension.....we haven't begun to dip into his IRA as yet......we certainly cannot spend as freely as we did when he was bringing in his paycheck as head of the Quality Control Department but we're doing alright.

5. What's been your favorite Olympic moment so far?
(Not ever, just in the 2012 Summer games)
I've not watched.

6. What would you label as the messiest room in your house?
My studio........I tidy it up and then become immersed in projects and it is messy once again......That's what I like about having a studio, I can leave my work out.........I have curtains to put over the doorway when company comes since there are no doors on the dining room.

7. Do you follow your heart or your head?
My heart

8. Insert your own random thought here.
Will this summer never end.....

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

A Simple Woman's Daybook

From Mama Bear's Journal....
FOR TODAY...Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Outside my window...its 79°F, 26°C, supposed to reach 91 this afternoon with a 30% chance of a thunderstorm,the sun is shining, flowers are blooming and birds are singing. We had two good rains in the last few days so everything has perked up...we're getting Okra, Squash, and Butter beans from the garden...I'm just beginning to see some leaves changing color on the Maple Tree....Crepe Myrtles are still blooming...I see the little Hummingbird sitting on a tree limb guarding the feeder....I am so-o ready for Fall...

I am thinking...this is what they mean by "lazy days of summer" I certainly don't want to do anything

I am thankful...for produce from the garden...the wonderful sermon we heard on Sunday....days when I get to stay home....enough money to pay bills and still manage a meal out or a trip now and then....my wonderful followers here at Bears at Home

In the kitchen...we had vegetables for dinner last night and I'm thinking fish sandwiches and fries for dinner tonight...

I am wearing...polka dot capris and a white tank

I am creating... this cross stitch pattern which, I hope,
 will someday look like this

I finished binding this quilt and just need

to run the lint roller over it to remove loose strings and

 cat hair.

I've finished these blocks for the "My Favorite Things"

quilt and just need to prepare the patchwork
that goes in between


I am going...to stay home most of this week...

I am wondering...how much longer the heat of summer will last...

I am reading...These is my Words and Broken Chords

I am hoping...for inspiration on a new project

I am looking forward to...college football (September 1, Auburn-Clemson)

I am learning...to take each day as it comes

Around the house...the rooms could use some tidying

I am pondering...why my car insurance has gone up...

A favorite quote for today..."the heavens declare the glory of God" Psalm 19:1

One of my favorite things...looking out my window at God's creation

A few plans for the rest of the week:club meeting on Thursday night.....hopefully a day out with Daughter and Granddaughter...

From my photo file....
Honey Bear made this photo of our handsome Mr Toad...

credit for the creation of The Simple Woman's Daybook
 go to Peggy.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Monday Quiz About Me



1. Where do you go to get your news? Papa Bear...he reads the news on line and passes it on to me.

2. What Olympic level skill do you have (e.g. One could be a world-class paper clip bender)? tough question......I'm not sure I'm that skilled at anything.....If you asked my Daughter, she'd say 'folding fitted sheets' although its harder now that the elastic goes all the way around.

3. If I say the word, 'intellectual,' what do you think? Someone who has a masters degree but can discourse on a wide variety of subjects as well.

4. Who in your family do you look the most like? My Mother, although I inherited my metabolism and health problems from my Dad. My Mother was 5'3 and never weighed more than 120. She had loads of energy and was very efficient. I do look more like her in the facial features and inherited her thick hair. Also, I have a disposition like hers. 

And don't forget to add a 5th Question on your own blog so we can answer as we hop around!


What is your favorite Olympic event?


Thanks to Heather for sponsoring this Monday Meet and Greet.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Funny Friday


Wil here
writing to you from Camp Goodbear
Mama will post this for me.

Hello Mother, Hello Father
here I am at camp Goodbear.....
Camp has been so much fun and filled with 
so many wonderful things to do...
We go swimming and canoeing in this lake

hiking on this trail

 there's fishing, which I love

wonderful smores and...
stories around the campfire...
but best of all is spending time with my
friends: Prudence, Wilbur, Sweet Pea and
all the rest...

Its Bearants day tomorrow...
we'll have lots of activities:
A canoe race (boys vs girls)
Ping Pong match
Picnic
Egg Toss
and an arts & crafts display
Bye now,
Wil

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Summertime Memories

Sometimes I think about the difference in my childhood and my grandchildren's. My summers were filled with work and play, most of it out of doors. My Mother always had a large garden and summer time was filled with the gathering of the produce, the process of preparing it for canning or freezing. We "put up" jams, jellies, soups, vegetables and fruits to sustain us through the winter months and beyond. I didn't help with the final process until I was a teen, though. I can see my Mother still standing in the kitchen in front of the stove as she lifted the jars from the canner and set them on the counter, covered by a towel, to cool. And then we'd listen as each one made that popping sound of its lid which let us know it was sealed. 
I had my chores to do every day and there was no playing until those were completed. Our play sometimes consisted of long bike rides or hikes through the rural community where we lived. The roads were all dirt or chert and there was very little traffic. However, there were also trails through the woods and around the fields of neighbor farmers which we often took and discovered new treasures of nature among the familiar. Our neighbor's doors were always open with offerings of a glass of water, lemonade and sometimes cake or cookies. Those same neighbor's houses were not a few steps away as are the houses in my area today but were often a quarter mile away.
Now compare this to the times in which we live: My grandchildren spend most of their time indoors where the air conditioners hum and they play with electronic games....
The last few weeks, I've been "putting up" produce from the garden. I have now frozen Okra, Corn, Peppers and Zucchini. My kitchen can become quite warm during this time even with air conditioning and fans but nothing compared to the heat in Mama's kitchen during canning time. 
Mama went home to heaven on July 29th 2005.