The Simple Woman's Daybook ~ Tuesday, April 26th

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 The Simple Woman’s Daybook

Outside my window... ~ Its still dark.  The temperature is cool and the breeze smells sweet and clean.  The mean, old rooster is trying his best to wake everyone!

I am reminding myself ~ that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  Heb 11:1

I am thinking...  ~I am now four days behind on counting the Omer…..sick kids and stormy weather.  Still I should do better.

I am thankful for...  ~ a forgiving Father

I am wearing...  ~ pajamas and barefoot

I am remembering...  ~ how much I dislike cellars!

I am praying … ~ for you, for our country ~ many things

I am going...  ~ to continue cleaning for the next several days

I am currently reading...  ~ I have at least two books started, but I haven’t been in a reading mood.  I’ve been in a cleaning mood, which is GOOD.

(And it doesn’t happen every often)

I am hoping...  ~ for lots of energy!

On my mind...  ~ the garden

Noticing that...   ~ I have a lot of unfinished projects!

Pondering these words… “In the spring, everbody’s hands should smell like dirt.” (from a Mary Engelbreit  calendar) ~ I think she’s right!

From the kitchen...  ~ honey hunk has promised to grill  tonight! YES!

Around the house...  ~ things are beginning to shaping up!  How do we accumulate so much clutter over winter?

One of my favorite things… ~ SPRING!

From the Learning Room… ~ the boys are working on geography

and I am learning to make sauerkraut and other fermented vegetables

A picture to share… ~

Please pray for

Ellianna

Quote of the Week… ~ pre-k teacher interviewing grandchickie

 for her pre –enrollment evaluation,  “Are you a boy or a girl?”

Keleighly, “I’m a boy”.

Teacher, “Are you sure you’re a boy?”

Keleighly, as she rolls her eyes, “Really?  I’m a GIRL!  Duh!”

Hey, she is kin to her Mamaw!  She knew all of her shapes, including a trapezoid and an octagon!

(I’m just kidding.  She had to show me what a trapezoid was.)

I’ll be praying for her teacher.  She’ll need it.

Be sure and visit The Simple Woman’s Daybook for more daybook entries.

May your spring be filled with the gift of new life, sweet smells and sunny days.

 May God be gracious to you and bless you; may He make His countenance shine upon you forever; that Your way be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.

Blessings,

Cheryl

The Champion by Carmen

May your Resurrection weekend be blessed!

Ladies of the Net

I thought I'd do something different today.  I like different, sometimes.  

The following is a (short) list of a few of my favorite blogs and what the ladies there have taught me.

If by some chance, you have never visited any of these lovely ladies, you'll be doing yourself a great favor to take a few minutes and do just that!

Now, grab a cup of coffee, tea or Dr. Pepper and enjoy a mini vacation to 
 

Bloggerittaville!

Here we are at the beach. 
Sorry, just kidding!
 

 Parsley @ http://seasonsofmymind.blogspot.com/

Believe it or not, I've known Parsley longer than I've been blogging!

Parsley is a little gal with a BIG Heart, not only a heart for people, but she loves animals!  This girl should have been a zoo keeper.  I believe she has yet to meet an animal she does not like….well, maybe she wasn’t too crazy about the black widow spider encounter.  Just saying!

From Parsley I’ve learned so much about kindness toward others (even when it is difficult).  She is always able to see the silver lining in cloudy situations.  I believe being able to do this is a gift from God and I see it reflected in her Christian walk.

And Ms. Parsley writes with a style that will make you smile! 

Parsley is tremendous Teacher!

Because she teaches by example.

Beth @ http://www.bethszimmerman.com/

Beth was one of the first bloggers I felt a kinship to.  We started blogging about the same time, we are both Oklahomans (even though Beth is a “northern transplant, we love her anyway), we both have issues with grown kids, both have kids entering *or in* ministry ~ the list goes on and on.

Beth has been a wonderful example of how a person can “grow in grace”.  Beth used to be “bashful” and have difficulty expressing her thoughts and opinions to others.  But over the last few years, her self-confidence has soared.  And it has soared because she decided to trust God.  I’ve seen both personal growth and spiritual growth as Beth has emerged from the self-imposed prison she was once locked in. 

We all make our own personal prisons.  You might be afraid to trust your own judgment in some ways, you may feel inferior because of a physical handicap, you may feel you don’t speak eloquently enough to make yourself heard ~ But you are the person God made you to be.  You just have to step out and TRUST the Creator.   

It’s a step of FAITH.

Beth has taught me, that’s it is okay to be myself, even if I make a mistake or two along the way. 

Beth  is an awesome "Over-comer"!

She also has two other blogs:

And she writes for a new blog (along with other Oklahoma ladies) called Testify:  (I don’t know when she sleeps, either.)

Linda @ http://prairieflowerfarm.blogspot.com/

Linda has more energy and creativity than three people!  She has a beautiful, happy life ~ not because she has been “handed” a perfect life, but because she chooses to cultivate beauty and happiness.

From Linda I’ve learned to “make do” and do it now.   
Let me explain.   

Often, I have good intentions ~ sometimes, I even have great intentions.   

But I tend to want to wait ~ wait until we have the money, wait until the house is clean/cleaner/at least a path through it, wait until the weather is right ~ you name it, I put things off, thinking there will be a more "perfect" time.  
(Which makes me a little delusional like most of the population.)

 Here's the deal, we need to make the most out of the time we have!  

This is what Linda inspires me to do!

And I believe Linda encourages the rest of us, without even knowing what an awesome job she is doing!

The ability to cherish each God given moment ~

~ It is an awesome thing!~  

Linda is an awesome Encourager!

P.S.  Be sure and check out some of Linda’s recipes!  They are so good….yummy!  And you can visit Linda's store!

Amy @ http://homesteadrevival.blogspot.com/

Amy finds the coolest stuff!  (Definition:  the term “coolest” – it is a term from the 60’s and means: the greatest, neatest, “bestest” ~ which isn’t even a word…yet of stuff!  You get the idea.)   

Amy features some great products made by other bloggers on her blog and she always finds lots of “pretties” to share.  Still, she is down to earth “farmgirl” practical!

I’ve learned a number of life's lessons from Amy. 

One of which is how to make many of my own household cleaners.   

They are fun to make, inexpensive, and we feel better because we are no longer being smothered with chemicals as we clean.

* Disclaimer ~ Amy has a large following and does not know me from the other twelve hundred or so people who follow her blog.   

That said, her blog will make you feel at home!

Amy has the gift of Hospitality!

The above blogs are listed in no particular order, other than distance from my house to theirs and the length of time I have *known* about their blogs!

Again, if you do not follow these ladies or have never visited their blogs, you are missing a great deal.  Don’t believe me?  Pay them a visit!

Blessings and hugs,

Cheryl

P.S. I plan to do this again *and again* from time to time.  If you are not on the list this time, you may be in the future!

Long Day and a Laugh!

I just finished posting the first installment of this year's Omer.  If you would like to follow along, please join me!  If you have a comment, please leave one ~ I'll love you even more, if you do!

You can find the link at the top of my sidebar.

I'm just developing the page the Omer is on, so forgive me for it looking a bit undone.  But ya know, I'm no techie!

I am really tired tonight.  Today was the day to run errands.  You know the "drill" ~ post office, grocery store, feed store ~ hurry home, fix a bite to eat, then watch two of the little grandchickies.  Their Mom was working 4 - 12 this evening.  So, we had tacos for supper.  No one complained ~ Nada!

Remember the movie The Gambler?  Actually, there were 4 or 5 that Kenny Rogers made.  I didn't know that.  A couple of weeks ago, I ordered the first three.  They were in boxed set.  Then I discovered, the one I really liked (with Reba, Doug McClure, and many of the "older" cowboys) was The Gambler IV, Luck of the Draw.

 So, today, I ordered #IV

 The boys are happy ~ probably not as happy as me....and Papaw!

I really liked Doug McClure.

Since I am just rambling, I'll leave you with this.  I read it over at Momza's House:

Did you hear about this April Fool's prank?

At a high school in Montana, a group of students played a prank--
they let three goats loose in the school.

But, before turning them loose, they painted numbers on the sides of the goats: 1,2, and 4.

School administrators spent most of the day looking for number 3.

 

Who says today's school kids aren't clever?

I'm still laughing!

May your heart be filled to overflowing with blessings!

Cheryl

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~ Tuesday, April 19th

The Simple Woman’s Daybook

Sefirat Ha-Omer

Outside my window... ~ it is very windy, again today

I am reminding myself ~ today is the first day of Passover ~

Nissan 15, 5771

                               

I am thinking...  ~ about counting the Omer, as Adonai commended in the Old Testament.  The “counting” is the  time between Passover and Pentecost.

I am thankful for...  ~ salvation through Yeshua (Jesus) and all my friends on here.  You are very special to me!

I am wearing...  ~ old and comfortable and barefoot

I am remembering...  ~ some of the precious people who have touched my life.

I am praying … ~ for the needs of many today

(If you would like prayer, just leave me a comment or email me at ~

bloomwhereyoureplanted@yahoo.com )

I am going...  ~ to treat someone very special today…..shhhh,

It’s a secret though.

I am currently reading...  ~ today, my Bible

I am hoping...  ~ for some much needed rain

On my mind...  ~ The exercise for the day on one of the sites I was reading this morning ~ Help someone on their terms not on yours. Apply yourself to their specific needs even if it takes effort. ~ That's difficult sometimes, isn't it? But what Yeshua did for all of us, is the primary example of this very act.

Pondering these words…  ~ “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”  Mt 28:6 ~ Beautiful!

From the kitchen...  ~  Probably, salmon tonight.

One of my favorite things… ~ cool nights, warm days (not all this wind, though)

From the Learning Room… ~ the boys are working on multiplication and learning to build fence.

A picture to share… ~

S halom!

Quote of the Week… ~ "God is too good to be unkind, and He is too wise

to be mistaken.  And when we cannot trace

His hand, we must trust His heart." ~ Charles Spurgeon

(If you would like to know more about Counting the Omer  ~
Sefirat Ha-Omer ~ just let me know!  It will bless you!)

May God be gracious to you and bless you; may He make His countenance shine upon you forever; that Your way be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.

Shalom Alecheim (friend)!

Cheryl 

Be sure and visit The Simple Woman’s Daybook for more daybook entries.

The Shi-anne Social Club

These are pictures of last year's garden, taken in early May.  I love having flowers throughout the vegetable garden!  Flowers add so much color, many are great companion plants for the vegetable plants and since we raise goats......the vegetable garden is one of the few places the goats cannot get to my flowers!

In the northwest corner of the garden, we left a seating area, with an awning, chairs and a table.  Last year was the first time we decided to do this ~ and ~ we loved it!

Nearly every evening, someone enjoyed just relaxing outside in the garden.  Several evenings we ate supper dinner there and many times we had company for supper.

Life has brought many changes to the lives of some of those who live near us.  Their lives are such, we believe they could benefit from spending sometime in our garden ~ maybe enjoying a meal, visiting with friends, making homemade ice cream or sharing a watermelon.

They need to know someone cares ~ we all need that, don't we?

So, this year we are tripling the size of our garden.  We are making our seating area larger.  And we are going to invite different neighbors and friends over each Sunday evening for fellowship, laughs, prayers ~ food & fun.

We are laughingly calling it "The Shi-anne Social Club".

I guess we could have called it the Country Club.

We are definitely, COUNTRY!

It will be a simple thing to do.  We are praying it will enrich the lives of those we care about.

Just praying about it, making plans, thinking about what we will serve ~ it has already enlarged our hearts!

Praying your summer will be blessed with those you care about!

Cheryl

Old Fashion Homemade Root Beer

Today, I am joining with the fun gals over at Gooseberry Patch. They are rounding up lots of goodies and good ideas to make your summer, a summer your kids will not forget!

Make this summer special. Make some memories!

Old Fashion Homemade Root Beer

The kids love doing this, but will need a little help. 

We make Homemade Root Beer every 4^th of July, at family reunions and all the major family cookouts during the summer.  The boys (ages 7 to 15 y/o) have also demonstrated how to make root beer for college continuing education classes and centennial celebrations.   
 It is always a big hit!

You will need:

A large, clean ice chest (none metal)

A large wooden or plastic spoon

Ingredients:

1 2 oz. bottle McCormick’s Root Beer Concentrate (extract)

5 lbs of sugar (we cut this to 4 lbs.)

5 gals of Spring Water

Dry ice - approximately 3 to 4 lbs.

DO NOT allow children to handle dry ice!

Pour Root Beer Extract into your ice chest.  Add sugar and spring water.  Stir until sugar begins to mix well with water and extract. 

(We let all the younger kids help add the ingredients and help stir.)

Gently add dry ice.  You will need to stir until most of the dry ice melts. 

(This is when we let the big kids take over, reminding them to stir carefully and to not allow the dry ice to come in contact with their hand.)

The dry ice will melt in about 20 minutes.  Once it is nearly all melted (you can remove the last few pieces (chunks) of dry ice if you wish), and the 

Root Beer will be icy cold and ready to serve!

McCormick’s Root Beer Concentrate can be found on the spice isle in most Wal-Marts.

You can also order Root Beer Concentrates, along with a number of other soft drink concentrates from Lehman's.

Enjoy!

Cheryl

                 

                                   

When the Soul Mends

~ A Book Review ~

Many of you know that I love to read!  If I don’t have a book handy, I’ll read the grocery labels.  I can’t help it!

After reviewing books for an independent company, I am now reviewing for WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.  What a great team of writers!  My first book to review for the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group was When the Soul Mends, by Cindy Woodsmall.

A relatively new author, Ms. Woodsmall’s books have already made the New York Times best seller list and won numerous other awards.  Ms. Woodsmall lives with her family in Georgia.  You can find out more, by going to her website. You will also find excerpts from her books and you can sign up to receive her free newsletter!

Having never read one of Ms. Woodsmall’s books prior to receiving When the Soul Mends, I was thoroughly looking forward to the experience.  I was not disappointed!

The book itself is about a young nursing student, who because of personal reasons has left the Old Order Amish family and the lifestyle that once represented her whole world.  Hannah is now faced with the challenge of having to return home to Owl’s Perch in order to help her younger sister who was partially responsible for Hannah’s leaving.  This is a story about the power of forgiveness and how God moves to restore all things.  It is also a story about overcoming rumors and lies, learning to trust once more.

I read this book over the weekend and  I barely put it down!  The characters are complex.  They are more than just names on a page, they are believable.  And what I loved the most, Ms. Woodsmall does not “telegraph” how the story is going to end.  When the Soul Mends contains twists and turns you do not see coming, therefore holding the reader’s interest right up until the last paragraph!

This is the third book in Woodsmall’s Sisters of the Quilt series.  Her writing is amazing! 

This is one author whose work I will look forward to reading in the future.

Disclaimer:  I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.  The words and thoughts used to describe the book are strictly my own.

Please visit my side bar where it says to "Rank this Review" and select the ranking you would give this review. 

(Hugs and thank you!)

Happy reading!

~ Cheryl

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~ Tuesday, April 12th

Hey followers, you all are so special and I just needed to tell you so!  I wish we could visit in person.  I really am trying to get back into the habit of posting on a more regular schedule.  I thought maybe doing the “daybook” would help give me structure.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook

Outside my window...  spring is happening, everywhere!  I love it.

I am reminding myself ~ Life comes in cycles

I am thinking...  ~ I need to make a list and then follow through.  The list making is the easy part.  It is in the doing I get bogged down.

I am thankful for...  ~ fresh plowed dirt between my toes ~ walks in the pasture with my honey ~ new life ~ the irises that are blooming

I am wearing...  ~ Pajamas and barefoot

I am remembering...  ~ that people are far more important than things

I am praying … ~ for some special friends who are in need

I am going...  ~ to spend some time writing a few letters and getting some cards ready to mail.  April is National Letter Writing Month.  Why not send someone a note?

I am currently reading...  ~ actually, I just finished When the Soul Mends by Cindy Woodsmall.  Wonderful read!

I am hoping...  ~ to finish planting the garden during the next week.

On my mind...  ~ the poor people of Japan.  It is difficult to imagine all they are going through.

Noticing that...   ~ earthquakes are definitely increasing ~ when I was a young girl, we might hear of one, maybe two earthquakes a year.

Pondering these words…  ~ “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.”  Mark 13:8

From the kitchen...  ~ Tuesday’s menu includes rosemary and garlic baked chicken and a fresh green salad, not sure what else besides sweet tea.  After all it is the house wine of the south, you know!

Around the house...  ~ I am rearranging to make room for a new (to us) sectional

One of my favorite things… ~ cool nights, warm days

From the Learning Room… ~ the boys are working on animal husbandry, as we have baby goats to take care of everywhere.  Yesterday, they learned how to ban the little guys.

I am still working on making soap.  I now have everything I need.

I am creating... ~ the Shi-anne Social Club 

A picture to share… ~

Quote of the Week… ~ recently said by an evangelist, “When God said I AM, what HE was really saying is, you’re not.”

(Sometimes we need to be reminded ~ at least, I do.)

Be sure and visit The Simple Woman’s Daybook for more daybook entries.

May your spring be filled with the gift of new life, sweet smells and sunny days!

Blessings,

Cheryl