"I love the rainy nights"

I love the rainy nights...





Really I do, or did, until lightening killed my computer. The computer FILLED with all my precious pictures. All those pictures I didn't transfer to cds like the little voice in my head told me too.
So, just like that, ZAP!!! Gone!!!

I told hubby no hurry on the replacement computer, I could visit my blogpeeps in the eveing on his laptop, BUT him being the sweetheart he is, took it in, got all my old info (hard drive) saved, and moved to my new...



Yep, a Dell, which is supposed to be better than my old HP. Sad thing is, my HP screen and keyboard, which was only three years old, is already out of date, and now my speakers don't work, and I have to get a new keyboard.


(meanwhile I'm borrowing hubby's new keyboard, because when he found my Dell, he also bought him a new laptop and work computer)

I still haven't moved my photos to the new computer, or cds, but, trust me, that will be done this week.



So, I'm baaaaccccckkkkkk!!!

And will be checking in on you guys real soon!!!



My tip to share? When you unplug your power strip to the computer during a lightening storm, ALSO unplug the phone line if the computer is receiving internet service THROUGH it. I just found out our power strip ALSO has a phone jack, so now all can be turned off at the same time. Also, move those photos to CD! Don't trust your computer as reliable storage.

Blue Monday? I was BLUE without my computer and blog-ability, NOW my new BLUE Dell brightens my day!!

Have a GREAT WEEK!!!!!
I'm joining
Smiling Sally's Blue Monday
11th Heavens Homemaking Haven for Home Maker Monday
As for Me and My House for Making A Happy Home Monday

Lunar Fringe...

I am an official Lunar (not to be confused with a Luna-tic) Gardener.

On Mondays I will post what I learned, or did (or both-lol ).

Soooooo, this week, just what is Lunar or Moon gardening?

"According to a National Geographic news article more gardeners today are turning to the moon for sage advice on the best time to plant, prune, weed, and harvest. The practice, known as moon or lunar gardening, centers on the moon's gravitational effect on the flow of moisture in soil and plants.

Gardening by the moon is as old as time. Long before man (and women!) ever had a watch on his wrist or a calendar on the refrigerator, everything was governed by the phases of the moon." Says Marion Owen of Planting by the Phases of the Moon.

Simply, the 'phase' of the moon, determines the best time for certain activities.

Normally, if something requires serious mind-stretching (intense learning), I avoid it.

I have always wanted to learn how to do this, so that I could do it on my own with out relying on someone else.

SO, this year, I'm learning (this and the book of Isaiah).

This is big stuff for me.

I am also following Grammy (the EmptyNester) at It's Green Day as she chronicles her 'adventures' planting by the moon, as well as other planting adventures.

As I learn I will follow the below chart taken from Farmer's Almanac website:

{I noticed Blogger cut off the 'by the moon phase' of the chart-follow the link to see your own, for your own area}

Outdoor Planting Table for 2009

My location is in Region 4 on the map.

This outdoor planting table shows 1) Planting Dates that reflect safe periods for planting in areas that receive frost and 2) Moon-Favorable periods. For above-ground crops, plant during the light of the Moon (new to full Moon); for below-ground crops, plant during the dark of the Moon (from the day after it's full to the day before it's new again). See our Moon Phase Calendar for these times in your area.

Take note: This is a broad-based system that divides the United States and southern Canada into four gardening regions. Your location in a region, topographic features, and frost dates (for the United States and Canada) should be considered to determine the most reliable plantings dates.

In this chart, crops designated as "plants" refer to vegetables that are usually transplanted and not started from seed. The other crops are better off started as seeds.

NOTE: Above-Ground Crops Marked * -- (E) Means Early -- (L) Means Late

	Plant	Time	Planting Dates	Moon Favorable
*	Barley		Feb 15-Mar 7	Feb 24-Mar 7
*	Beans	(E)	Mar 15-Apr 7	Mar 26-Apr 7
		(L)	Aug 7-31	Aug 20-31
	Beets	(E)	Feb 7-28	Feb 10-23
		(L)	Sep 1-30	Sep 5-17
*	Broccoli plants	(E)	Feb 15-Mar 15	Feb 24-Mar 10
		(L)	Sep 7-30	Sep 18-30
*	Brussel sprouts		Feb 11-Mar 20	Feb 24-Mar 10
*	Cabbage plants		Feb 11-Mar 20	Feb 24-Mar 10
	Carrots	(E)	Feb 15-Mar 7	Feb 15-23
		(L)	Aug 1-Sep 7	Aug 6-19, Sep 5-7
*	Cauliflower plants	(E)	Feb 15-Mar 7	Feb 24-Mar 7
		(L)	Aug 7-31	Aug 20-31
*	Celery plants	(E)	Feb 15-28	Feb 24-28
		(L)	Sep 15-30	Sep 18-30
*	Collards	(E)	Feb 11-Mar 20	Feb 24-Mar 10
		(L)	Sep 7-30	Sep 18-30
*	Corn, sweet	(E)	Mar 15-31	Mar 26-31
		(L)	Aug 7-31	Aug 20-31
*	Cucumbers		Mar 7-Apr 15	Mar 7-10, Mar 26-Apr 9
*	Eggplant plants		Mar 7-Apr 15	Mar 7-10, Mar 26-Apr 9
*	Endive	(E)	Feb 15-Mar 20	Feb 24-Mar 10
		(L)	Aug 15-Sep 7	Aug 20-Sep 4
*	Kale	(E)	Feb 11-Mar 20	Feb 24-Mar 10
		(L)	Sep 7-30	Sep 18-30
	Leeks		Feb 15-Apr 15	Feb 15-23, Mar 11-25, Apr 10-15
*	Lettuce		Feb 15-Mar 7	Feb 24-Mar 7
*	Muskmelons		Mar 15-Apr 7	Mar 26-Apr 7
*	Okra		Apr 15-Jun 1	Apr 24-May 8, May 24-Jun 1
	Onion sets		Feb 1-28	Feb 10-23
*	Parsley		Feb 20-Mar 15	Feb 24-Mar 10
	Parnsips		Jan 15-Feb 4	Jan 15-25
*	Peas	(E)	Jan 15-Feb 7	Jan 26-Feb 7
		(L)	Sep 15-30	Sep 18-30
*	Pepper plants		Mar 1-20	Mar 1-10
	Potatoes		Feb 10-28	Feb 10-23
*	Pumpkins		Mar 7-20	Mar 7-10
	Radishes	(E)	Jan 21-Mar 1	Jan 21-25, Feb 10-23
		(L)	Oct 1-21	Oct 5-17
*	Spinach	(E)	Feb 7-Mar 15	Feb 7-9, Feb 24-Mar 10
		(L)	Oct 1-21	Oct 1-4, Oct 18-21
*	Squashes		Mar 15-Apr 15	Mar 26-Apr 9
	Sweet potatoes		Mar 23-Apr 6	Mar 23-25
*	Swiss chard		Feb 7-Mar 15	Feb 7-9, Feb 24-Mar 10
*	Tomato plants		Mar 7-20	Mar 7-10
	Turnips	(E)	Jan 20-Feb 15	Jan 20-25, Feb 10-15
		(L)	Sep 1-Oct 15	Sep 5-17, Oct 5-15
*	Watermelons		Mar 15-Apr 7	Mar 26-Apr 7
*	Wheat, spring		Feb 15-28	Feb 24-28
*	Wheat, winter		Oct 15-Dec 7	Oct 18-Nov 2, Nov 16-Dec 2

11th Heavens Homemaking Haven for Home Maker Monday
As for Me and My House for Making A Happy Home Monday

Tidy IS better...

I do not like to clean, but I like clean! God knew what He was talking about when He said create a house of order. Order IS freedom.
I mean look at this! (quickly the piles creepeth in)
UGH! (can you even see the cat rear end? Even she didn't appreciate having to tunnel in to the food bowl)

A VERY short time later: clean washer and dryer, behold the order!!

to the left of the washer is my broom holder hubby finally hung up for me (it has moved from house to house with us), now we have plans to put more white wire shelves here.

And move the broom holder here. I also have more hook racks and an ironing board holder to put up. Hopefully this will be done soon. It is so nice when things have a place.

So where did all the junk go? Here on the island and freezer (no picture of that-trust me, it was a mess). So, working just 15 minutes at a time I cleaned the kitchen of the junk (and other kitchen stuff). All the junk went to the shed (which I am pleased to report is orderly and I am able to put things RIGHT where they belong). (shown here is seed starts, and a bag of seed potatoes to cut up and dry for planting)

I was thinking of all the things I am thankful for, my washer and dryer, my washroom, my wallspace. My kitchen window (see the sun? Thanks Goodwill).

My kitchen aide mixer, the bounty of soda and water bottles I'm re-cycling to store water in.

My bullet, my bread box, that my plastic containers (which fit IN the cabinet at the last place we lived) which hold cereal and fit perfectly on the bread box.

The lidded plastic container for the grands food and such, an out of the way corner to keep it (on top of the fridge), the basket I found to hold food for the girls I babysit. The basket that holds hubby's koolaide, and my napkin holder, all out of the way and easy to get too.

My pot rack, the hooks I don't have up yet for the bounty of the pans and pots we have. That this empty wall space over the freezer is useful, and I have more space for other things in the cabinets. I am thankful for my salad spinner, that can hang on the pot rack, showes measures, and only cost $1.49:)

I am thankful for the pretty curtians that came with the house. I am thankful for these big windows making the house bright.

When my little kitchen is clean I smile! See my cute little kettle? $1.00 at Goodwill. I am thankful for Goodwill. Behold the order! Spottless-no, tidy-yes!!

AND
for Blue Monday: product review: Pledge fabric sweeper-almost 5 BUCKS-works great! You roll it back and forth and the fuzzy rollers catch the pet hair and put it in the bin. It says it is disposible, but when I fill it I'm going to try emptying the catch bin. Depending on how long it lasts, it might be worth the price to me:)

This is for:

11th Heavens Homemaking Haven for Home Maker Monday


AND
As for Me and My House for Making A Happy Home Monday

Easy and Do-able...

I have a confession, I am not a harvester.
I enjoy the researching, I enjoy the planning, I enjoy the planting, I enjoy the plants,
I do not harvest (usually). I do not preserve (usually). I, usually, do not eat it.
Or at least I haven't in the past.
THIS year I have decided to plant more food than ornamental.
To harvest what I grow, and to eat it. My prayer is to crave it:) I started today.
I went and thinned my 'salad bowl', which amazingly has remained even through our freeze this week, I guess its in a good sheltered spot. These poor plants haven't grown because lack of thinning, now they can really go to town.

I also want to not only know which ones to eat, but actually EAT the weeds growing in my yard that I can. So I went and trimmed some dandelion (tastes like lettuce), and some sorrel (sour), chickweed (no taste really). I also took cuttings of my salad barnett.

I ALSO want to make my own dressing. I love honey mustard, so I found an easy recipe online (its below) and made some:), I had it over my baby green salad, and it was de-lish! (I had it with chicken fried tenders, and it wasn't til I was on the last piece that I thought of shredding it over the salad-derrrr)

Then I realized I forgot mayo, so I added it, and OH MY!!! WOW!!

Some where I have cool glass bottles I can put it in, but for now this will do!

My plan is to know what is edible, and have a spot where edible weeds can grow, and ACTUALLY eat what I grow:)
I can't tell you how happy I am with my self right now:)
Happy, and full:)
mmmmm good!
I added coarse ground pepper and used dried onion powder

Easy Honey Mustard Dressing
1 cup oil
2 tablespoons mustard
2 tablespoons cider vinegar -- plus
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
1/2 cup honey
1 1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
1 tablespoon finely chopped red onion
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions:
Put oil, mustard, vinegar, honey, mayonnaise, parsley, onion, Worcestershire and salt in a blender container. Blend for 3 minutes on medium speed.
Keeps well.

Recipe by Liz Caesar
From cdkitchen

This is for:
11th Heavens Homemaking Haven for Home Maker Monday

Everyday Elegance for My Favorite Things Monday

AND
As for Me and My House for Making A Happy Home Monday

Love Dare: The Plan

From the movie "Fire Proof"

My plan!
First I loved this movie, and the idea for spending 40 days to work on the ME part of my marriage.
I did a little of the book when I got it in October,
And then decided to start my new year off with a fresh start!
So, everyday (hopefully) I'll post the 'dare' and results!
My sweet hubby, who doesn't read my blog, has no clue, so lets see how far I can go before he figures something out:)
Too much of this in the last 20 years (justified or not:)

 

{my monkeys knocked this over years ago-and I keep gluing the poor guys head back on:}
DISCLAIMER: Each Challenge is Being Approached With Pray (figure I need some 'higher' help:)
DAY ONE: Love is Patient
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."
Ephesian 4:2 NIV
Challenge: Say nothing bad to spouse
Results: This was easy on this day

DAY TWO: Love is kind
"Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just a God in Christ also has forgiven you."
Ephesians 4:32
Challenge: In addition to saying nothing negative to spouse, do one unexpected gesture as an act of kindness
Results: Turned down his side of the bed, picked up his stuff with out complaining,

DAY THREE: Love is not selfish
"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor."
Romans 12:10
Challenge: Restraining from negative comments, buy your spouse something
Results: I soaked, washed and hung up all the church shirts and PLAN on buying buttons to replace what my dog chewed off

DAY FOUR: Love is thoughtful
"How precious also are Your thoughts to me...How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand."
Psalms 139:17-18
Challenge: contact your spouse sometime during the day, ask if there is something you can do for them
Results: (I will be doing this today)

DAY FIVE: Love is not rude
"He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be reckoned a curse to him." (UGH!!)
Proverbs 27:14
Challenge: Ask your spouse to ell you three things that cause him to be uncomfortable or irritated with you. You must do so without attacking them or justifying your behavior. This is from their perspective only.
Results: Posted tomorrow




Life A&E Life - Religion A&E - Movies
‘Fireproof’ moviemaker tells of ‘Love Dare’

BY CARLA HINTON
Published: October 11, 2008
Stephen Kendrick co-wrote and produced the feature film "Fireproof” with his brother Alex. The brothers are associate pastors of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga., the church whose movie making ministry, Sherwood Pictures, produced the faith-themed movie. The Kendricks also co-wrote "The Love Dare” as part of the plot of "Fireproof.” The book outlines a 40-day challenge to learn and practice unconditional love.
Advertisement

Q: Where did the idea for "The Love Dare” book come from?

A: The idea for "The Love Dare” book came at the same time as the movie plot did. We both prayed for God to lead us to a storyline that would impact the culture. Alex was out jogging one day, and he came back with this idea. I said, "That’s it! We need to make that movie and write that book.” In the movie, a father gives his son the book "The Love Dare” that really changes his thinking.

Q: What kind of response has the book received?

A: Sales-wise, it’s been unbelievable. Broadman and Holman, the book’s publisher, said this is their fastest-selling book. They say it has been selling 5,000 to 10,000 copies a day for the last few weeks. We’ve gotten over 1,000 e-mails from people who have seen the movie and are now getting the book. Q: The book has an interesting warning at the beginning. Can you share a little about that?

A: People tend to flippantly approach sacred things. We want them to approach it (The Love Dare) in the right way. Often, people will try things for a few days and say, "Oh, it’s not working.” In the movie, (main character) Caleb is not approaching it with a serious heart at first.

Q: What is your ultimate goal for "The Love Dare”?

A: We do want to save marriages that are headed for divorce. God’s in the business of resurrecting dead things. I’ve seen God resurrect marriages, and it’s one of the most beautiful things. We want people to know their marriage is worth fighting for.

This is for:
11th Heavens Homemaking Haven for Home Maker Monday

Everyday Elegance for My Favorite Things Monday

AND
As for Me and My House for Making A Happy Home Monday

YOJ?

that's not right!!!

 

That's BETTER!

 

I was sorta blue,
I read these scriptures on someone's blog
James 1:2-4
2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
The word JOY stuck out!
That night at our RS (ladies church) Christmas party, this was my gift!!!!
Might have to leave this little beauty out all year:)
Thanks to you ladies that posted this wise phrase:

Joy to you

Joy to those you love

God Bless during this season and all year long:)

A reminder of this site that sends free Thank You cards to troops!!! Here
This is for:
11th Heavens Homemaking Haven for Home Maker Monday

Everyday Elegance for My Favorite Things Monday

AND
As for Me and My House for Making A Happy Home Monday

Christmas treasures: pt 4

What I enjoy, what makes me smile?
FROGS! (and purple)
So when I saw purple garland, I knew it would go great with my singing Santa frog, and bell ringing Santa: (no, its not realistic, neither is a singing Santa frog, or SANTA for that matter:)

 

My mom gave me a frog each Christmas, so I wired them to a wreath where I can really enjoy them (see the mistle-toad, and frog angels?), little girl doll is from a dear cousin (love dollies too), Mr. and Mrs. Claus from an Uncle (poor Santa has lost his eye)

 

Frogs on the tree:
top left: Guady frog prince from my mom
top right: Indian or Mexican style wood frog
bottom left: Tiny frog, er, I mean kitten (BAD KITTY)
bottom right: Mistle-toad

 

If your feeling froggy-JUMP:)

This is for:
11th Heavens Homemaking Haven for Home Maker Monday

Everyday Elegance for My Favorite Things Monday

AND
As for Me and My House for Making A Happy Home Monday