Shoes

  Sometimes its hard....cause I can't remember

  which shoes are for town, play or snow in December

  Shoes are for feet and my feet like to go

to all of the many good places I know

  My mom says I cant wear my good shoes outside

but I sometimes forget....and my play shoes hide

  So what should I do when my outside kitty beckons me

and my good shoes are the only ones I see?

  And while it was kitty I initially saw....

"Well, mom, the mud...I don't know about that at all"

  "My play shoes?"  Well....I don't know where they are....

I took them off while digging in your car....

  I try so hard to keep things straight......

good shoes for town and play shoes for running through the gate

and chasing bugs, digging mud pies and yes, wading the creek.....

but....what do I wear after my play shoes leak?

  This really is hard....and I wish I knew

 why I can't just wear irrigation boots to church too

 

 So, what am I to do when the world is outside

   and I want to be in it and my play shoes hide.

  Mom....can I go barefoot....its much more fun....

    and far less stressful for everyone.  :)

My Rest

  In your arms, I rest.  You understand me.  You know my short comings and my strengths.  You know why I feel as I do.  You're aware of my weaknesses.  And...unfortunately my sins.  You don't chastise me, but gently correct me....offering your strength to overcome.  You are my life blood.  I occasionally run from you.  Why?  I don't know.  Independence, maybe.  I sometimes tell myself it's from fatigue....but fatigue of what?  You know....you already know.  You know me better than I know myself.  My creator.
  So, Lord, even though I've done nothing to deserve you....and never could I.....I rest in your arms.  I lay my cares, my day, my smiles, and insecurities at your feet.  Take them Lord.....you promised to hold them for me.....so I may rest.  You've promised....with the scars in your hands.  Thank you............

A Harvest Night

 It's late, and again, I am awake.  My thoughts always come together at night...in the quiet.  I lay in bed near the open window....taking everything in.  Things that will soon be gone, replaced by the slumber of the ground, a chill in the wind and preparation for winter.  I love this time of year.  Crisp mornings, sun that shines to a cooler mid-day and harvest nights.
 A cool breeze blows through the window, gently blowing the curtains.  The rhythmic sound of crickets followed by the occasional night bird.  Stars: bright and clear, shine in all their glory.  The moon, shrouded in a small cloud sits just upon the horizon.  An orange hue, fitting for the pumpkins it will soon watch over. Mint in my drier fills the house with a sweet scent.  My children  sleep, awaiting another autumn-like day.  Harvest is definitely here.
  There is a peace that comes with this time of year.  God's blessings unfolding.   The fruit of summer's labor.  Color's become sharper.  Scents fill the air.  Life slows down...just a bit.  There is peace. 
  I resist closing my eyes...tomorrow will come soon.  But, the crickets and the breeze hold me captive.   Thank you God, for little blessings.

Canning

  Nothing smells sweeter than a kitchen during harvest.  The sweet scent of pickling spice and dill.  Peaches in the drier.  Pears and plums.  Grapes awaiting the juicer.  It transforms the kitchen into a small piece of heaven. 
  Kettles strategically placed throughout the kitchen, heaping with garden produce.  The water bath canner bubbling at a constant rate.  A marathon, a sweet one.  Empty jars at one end of the room...waiting.  Completed jars on the other....full....satisfaction.  The cooling rack loaded, waiting for the "ping" of freshly processed works of art.  Its harvest....its beautiful.
  There is now a well worn path from the garden to the kitchen.  Small hands carrying buckets...feet running back and forth...small bites of cucumbers and tomatoes along the way.  They enjoy this as much as I
.

  Transformation.  Hard work.  Making Memories.  All to the scent of sweet spices and smells.

 Treasure hunting in the garden.

 Tomatoes. Check.  Cucumbers. Check.

Fresh Pickles in the making:

 Cucumbers.

Add a little spice.

Dill and Vinegar.

And.....with a little time....Homemade Pickles....Yum!

A Trip to the Orchard:

Fresh Peaches.

A good bucket to pack them in.

Pears.

And...back to the Home Front:

Preparation.

A good canner.

And...these....

Become these...

Satisfaction.

My finger nails are now a shade of brown.  My floor now resembles Elmer's glue.  My kids have a winter stock pile of yummy fruits and veggies.  My kitchen smells delicious.  And...I am happy.

**I will clean my floor as soon as I am done blogging. <wink> <wink>**

The Produce Stand

Purdum's Fabulous Produce Stand: Who hasn't stopped in at least once.  So much fun!

Flowers, Flowers, Everywhere!

Anticipation!

So much to look at!  What to choose?

Selections Made: The happy ride home :

Ready to come back tomorrow.

Aw, summer time!

A Slow Down Kinda Day

It's late, and again the house is quiet.  Quiet after a cool family day together.  This summer has seemed to have come and gone.  Recently, Tim and I decided to do more things as a family.  Just us.  It's easy to let chaos creep in, and take over.  Before you know it, a year's past by, your kids are a year older and you can't account for anything you've done.  Busyness: the only thing accomplished.
  After completing school with the kids this morning, we all jumped in the truck.....picnic basket included.  The kids have been saving some money, so they brought that as well (in hopes of hitting a good yard sale).  We sailed out of town and headed for the mountains....and yes, found an estate sale on the way (Yay, for canning jars at estate sales!)  I proudly loaded my canning jars, the kids their purchases and away we drove. 
  Midvale....a quiet little town.  We stopped at the park and unloaded our picnic basket....  A perfect day for a picnic.  The perfect weather (fall weather), a picnic table and a quiet place for the kids to play.  I loved it.... I so needed it...time away and a chance to refuel.  Time for Tim and I to actually chat.....without the cell phone ringing! 
  After lunch, the kids begged to be pushed on the swings.  Somehow, I managed to hit heads with  a munchkin of mine and bite partially through my lip.. painful!  Painful and slightly disfiguring.  But the cute little Midvale store (complete with 100 year old hard wood floors), carried ice.  I hid my tears, applied ice, and marched on.  This is would not ruin my day!
  Our picnic was followed by a visit with friends in a local town, and a drive through the mountains.  There is something so therapeutic about the mountains.  Something so wonderful and fulfilling.  We stopped and let the kids out....tested out the elk bugle (it's bow season now) and enjoyed the mountain sunshine. 
  I am so glad for days like this: "Family days".   This day marched on just as fast as the others, but this one was different: memories.  I am starting to realize I equate the Valley with stress.  Stress, related to busyness that I, myself, create.  Getting out of it with my family was exactly what I needed today.  Getting out, and making memories with my family.  I am thanking God for it.