Schedule

We have a white board on the dining room wall, much to Gary's dismay.  I decided it was needed.  When the kids move out, then we can take it down.  But if it continues to help keep them on track, it stays.

If I forget to update it, they will point that out.  Ellie will write on it for me sometimes. 

I currently write the schedule for the day on it.  Josh is okay with the same schedule every day, but I discovered that Ellie would like it switched up now and then.  So now I have two schedules on there for the morning. 

I am wanting to not remind her all the time of what she needs to do, but when I see her not doing the things that need to be done to get ready for school and time to leave is fast approaching, it is hard.  I usually fail.

As you can see Gary contributed a little art work.  The kids made sure to tell me to leave it there.

I have also done an after school schedule, but the face man is currently in the way. 

Dinner

This photo has nothing to do with the post, save for that the recipe is from Myrtle and she misses moss.  And I had a photo of some that I took just for her. 

My dear culinary Myrtle has this handy little blog going.  Myrtle finds recipes, makes them, posts them and talks about making them.  She will also tell me about it and then I get to try something new.  Tonight I am trying the Baked Mustard Lime Chicken. 

To start off, you need to wear a cute little apron.  Mandatory.  [I can make you one for a small fee.]

Here is how I made this meal.  For one, I see no point in ever putting cilantro in anything.  No point.  So that was eliminated.

Next, we don't have Dijon mustard, so I used honey mustard.  Isn't a bit of honey good for you?  And since Gary isn't that big a fan of any kind of mustard, read that as he doesn't let the stuff pass by his lips, I only put in about 1/8 cup.

Side note: I rarely measure exactly when I cook. Drives Gary batty. So I don't really need to put measurements on here, just eyeball it.  Better yet, follow the link, since I didn't mention all the ingredients.

I did follow the recipe when it said to rinse and pat dry the chicken, though it is a step I find rather annoying.  No, I did not use a paper towel.  My home is paper towel free.


Then I discovered we had no more chili powder, so I had to go to the store, aka the attic, to visit Kulp's Spices.  And since the lovely, very organized Mrs. Kulp just recently made a charming little space for the store, I could find it, easy peasy.









Celtic sea salt?  Why so specific?  I used this instead.















Now to sit and wait to bake.  Note, I didn't cover it.  No need to waste and use plastic wrap.

Here it is all cooked. 

What was determined - less lime, less chili powder, less mustard.  If you are under the age of 10, no chili powder.  So that the kids would eat the chicken, I used my colander and rinsed it off.

 Though a work in progress, worth making again.

Second note: Preparing dinner took twice as long since I was documenting it on here while I went.

Doing . . . nothing

Well, maybe not nothing.  I have read up on Ranch life.  Not that I plan to do that any time soon, or ever. 

But I do know more than before about cow-calf ranching.  And burning grasses on the prairie. 

And a little more about photography.  I also realize I will have to wait many many many moons before I can afford a better camera with which to take better photos.  Unless I can fetch a good price from my current camera, which probably won't happen.  Or win the lottery, which also won't happen, since I don't buy tickets.  Or get a job, which isn't happening either.

But I think I take pretty good photos with what I got, anyhow.  Or I could unearth Gary's film camera, but I probably won't do that either, since I am in love with digital photography.

These are two of my current favorites.  And I am not at all partial to the subjects.  Ha, I am silly about those two.

The one with Josh is a little less becoming because it isn't just him, like with Ellie.  That larger shirt-less man kind of messes it up.  I think I just might try to photo shop those other people out.

Check back later to see my handy work.

Attic cleaning

Here is Kulp's Spices' new attic space.  I cleaned out the area, put stuff aside for our yard sale (seen in the boxes by the table,) fashioned shelves from things we already had, and alphabetized the spices.  Once all that was done, I remembered I wanted to staple the sheet to the ceiling to make it more room-like (and to keep any parts of the ceiling from falling on the  spices.)  So I carefully moved the shelves out of the way and contorted my body to staple the sheet to the joists. 

Now everything is back in its place and ready for spice bag production.  Tomorrow, we will have hot mulled apple cider at the Lansdale Farmers' Market.   Yum! 

Parenting

Parenting is almost always foremost in my thoughts.  I want to listen to them and hear them.  I want them to know that the way they feel is okay.  I want to connect with them.  I want to pray for them and with them.  I want to be their safe place.  I want to be a source of their comfort.  I want to stay calm.

But a lot of the time, I am constantly frustrated at their complete inability to be perfect little obeying children.  "Yes, Mommy, I would love to eat my vegetables."  "No, Mommy, I never want to watch TV."  Yes, Mommy, I will go do my homework."  "Yes, Mommy, I will go do all my jobs."  Which of course is absurd on my part to expect them to be such. 

Too often I wait for them to take a breathe and start explaining why my way is the right way.  More often than not, my anger eventually flares when their emotions do.  I usually end up saying something to drive us apart.  Days sometimes go by when not a prayer is heard.  I sometimes see a look of fear on their face when they look at me.  "Calm" is not my middle name.

The start of school has been my "New Year's Resolution" time.

Some of my goals for this school year:
Be a better scheduler.  (My children do better with a schedule.)
Exercise at least three times a week.
Read God's word everyday.
Pray specifically each day for my children, using the Power of a Praying Parent as my guide.
Pray specifically each day for my husband, using the Power of a Praying Wife as my guide.
Volunteer.
Find a job.
Change the way I speak.
Learn about my camera and do more with my photography.
Learn to play the guitar.

So far I am mostly off to a good start.

What to do

I have my days free, at least for now.  My children are in school.  All day.  I have thought and thought about what I shall do with my days now.

I can make a schedule.  Laundry and grocery-shopping-list making on Monday.  Shopping on Tuesday.  Vacuuming and steam mopping on Wednesday.  Baking, ironing and TV watching here and there, and so on.

Yesterday I was reminded that I could join a Bible study.  I was late, but I joined a study of the book of Psalms.  My friend, Myrtle, who in her own words "loves the Psalter like a loon," finds great comfort and peace in its pages.  Knows them inside out and upside down.  She knows which ones pray comfort to a trembling soul, which ones pray rejoicing with one full of praise.  I have learned from her the importance of praying the Psalter.

Today I was reminded of how I can use my time to help others.  In volunteer work at the kids' school, I enjoyed re-shelving books last year.  I got to know the Dewey decimal system better.  I haven't quite mastered it yet, so I need to keep volunteering.  I was also blessed to see my kids on the days they had library.  They love me being there.  I have other volunteering options and helping others ideas in mind.

I am trying to find employment, even in its smallest measurement.  I would like to work some of the days that the kids are in school, but there isn't much out there for that time slot.  I have applied, I've interviewed, I haven't heard back.  Or I have applied and I've never heard back.  Very frustrating.  We are also trying to do more with Kulp's Spices.  Right now we have a stand at the Lansdale Farmer's Market.  We hope to put some of our products in local stores and start an Internet store.  To do these, we need to get the attic in shape.  To do that we need to clean it out.  Right now I have been ignoring the attic and barely glance at the door as I pass it.