A Daybook in July

... .. ... .. ... .. .... . .. ..... .. .... .. .. .. .... .. ... .. . .

FOR TODAY  - the third Monday in July

Outside my window... the wash that my hubby hung up, for me, late yesterday afternoon is still hanging on the line... we failed to take it down in time before the evening dew had fallen on it.  

I am thinking...I figured one night, overnight, on the line, can't be all that bad!  I appreciated his help!!

I am thankful... for the (double) Date Night! we had last evening - with two of our dearest friends.  Hence, a late night and not getting the wash down in time.  :)

For sure, this date was needed... and lots of fun!  Dinner, Mini-golf and Ice Cream!!

In the kitchen... coffee!  Always... and home baked cookies, later today!

I am wearing... a brown & ruffly, Sarah Clemens, skirt and red t-shirt

I am creating... another "custom" bag order.  A friend of mine had a rather colorful coat, gifted to her by her now, late husband.  She no longer wears the coat and thought perhaps a bag out of it would be nice.  ** I don't do this for everyone.  And perhaps this bag will have it's own post in due time... stay tuned!

I am going... headed out the door in just a few moments to take the kids off to camp.  They're at the start of their second to last week of camp:  Camp Good News.  Till it's all said and done, they'll have gone to camp six weeks out of the summer!

I am wondering... how the kids will fare this week?  I could tell that the attendance had nearly doubled since the beginning days of camp, several weeks ago.  I told them ... this means, you're going to have make great effort to welcome the "newbies" to the camp.   To still enjoy yourself;  in all the activities and games, but you might have to step back more often and let the others (again, newbies!) have a turn more often.

It may be just me... but I worry.  I worry that they'll forget their manners sometimes.  Being "old hat" and oh so comfortable with the rhythm and routine of "camp life" that they'll forget to be mindful, share and sensitive.  I pray that they'll make friends easy and not just kids that they already know so well...

I am hoping...all in all that they'll have loads of fun!!

I am looking forward to...  My two older kids are also signed up for swimming lessons - which start on Saturday!  I'm glad about this, as it's my husband who has got the ball rolling on this.  I have never taken lessons and what limited "swimming" I have ever done, be it in creeks or murky farm ponds, oh there was an occasional swimming pool (that's what I grew up doing!), but I should have learned somewhere, sometime, something.
 I personally have had too many scary close calls and therefore don't like the water (I'll go in, but don't make me go under!)... Scott, my husband, on the other hand, is a fish!  HE LOVES the water and our 7yr old, Caleb, is right behind him in this... I hope something great will come of swimming lessons.

I am reading...well, you might find this interesting?  Remember my Summer Reading dilemma?  Well, I chose the Jan Karon book (In the Company of Others) to start reading, as my "light" reading.  I literally laughed out loud while reading the first chapter and have been reading it, slowly, ever since.  I'm still plugging away at: A Praying Life.  It's just going to be this way for awhile... and, that's okay!

Oh, I forgot.  Over the weekend my sister, Gladys, gifted me with two "new" cookbooks - as a belated birthday gift!  Of course, I've been thumbing through them, now, too!  These two books are:  A Farmer's Daughter, by Dawn Stoltzfus  *(I follow Dawn's blog) and Homemade Goodness; which is a collection of recipes by various current and former cooks at Bald Eagle Wilderness Boys Camp.    A place where my sister, Gladys, is currently the head cook!

 I'm super excited about both of these cookbooks.  And, I thank her for these gifts!!

** As a side note:  Homemade Goodness is recently hot off the press, available, for sale with the proceeds going to benefit this Boys Camp.  Check it out!  Actually, you might have to contact that camp directly for a sale to be completed... I can't find anything online about it, as of yet!

UPDATE:  I found an email address for orders to be placed:  homemadegoodness4u@gmail.com

I am learning...in bits and pieces... what flexibility is all about.  Don't ask me much about it... I might snap! ;) Or, get too bent out of shape!  lol.

I'm also learning... enjoying... my kids enthusiasm towards things in nature whether in the sky or on earth. Have you ever seen an upside down rainbow?  We have... just the other evening.  Daddy got called away from his study hour with questions out the whazoo of how and why and what would cause "that!"?
I was all ears..

Around the house... catching up from the weekend... I'm sure.  I do have to get that wash down and bake those cookies.. there might be some dinner to cook for, a watermelon to cut up and a bed to sleep in tonight.  I'm tired!  and it's only mid-morning...

I am pondering...the health benefit of Colloidal Silver.  As it pertains to me having/had Lyme Disease, in the last year and what seems like forever... Plantar Warts, on my feet.  Someone sent me information on it... and I'm really, really intrigued.  I would like to be free of this stuff..

A favorite quote for today...  "I Passed!"  
Something my hubby said to me, over the phone this morning... as another part of his schooling is behind us. There is more to go.  But, each time I hear those words... I'm so giddy with excitement for his successes.  Thank you, Lord!!

A few (not just one) of my favorite things... listening to my baby (soon-to-be) three years of age, playing the game Candy Land with her siblings or (older!) friends.  Seeing her toes curl, in concentration - at watering flowers.  Picking off a few handfuls of green beans...

Again, hearing my kids exclaim over things they see or hear, etc.

A few plans for the rest of the week: in no particular order.  Swimming lessons, dentist appointments, Scout meetings (for my son and hubby), lunch dates with a few friends (on separate days), caregroup social, a memorial service (if I go!), and  my Mother-in-law, Susie Mom,  is planning to come for a few days...overlapping some of these other things.  

A peek into my day...

Something's missing.  Must have been that needed article of clothing..snatched off the line last evening!!  I think it was me..
How do you like our creativity when we've run out of line for the load?

Enjoy, your day!  Thanks for reading along.. 

***
 Joining up, today, with Peggy from The Simple Woman's Daybook... and you can too!

Friday's Finds :: Guess Who I Found? (in Belle Armoire)

. .... . .. ... . .. . .. .. . .... . .. .. . .. .. .. . .. ... .. .. . ... .. . ..

{For those of you who are new to this blog and/or just poppin' in - Hello and Welcome! Often on Fridays I like to try and feature "a find" of no particular value or sentiment, no reason or rhyme and yet, exactly for all of those reasons I just mentioned.}

Although, this hasn't happened in a long while.. this is what I mean by a ~ Friday's Finds.

Guess who I found in and among the pages of here... 

Two of my really good friends... Sarah and Staci...both very local to me...both super sweet girls... they are both in this magazine and I am so super-duper excited for them.  Can you tell?  Just a little??   It's hard to see and I think one of my little girls tried to copy her... but I have even got Sarah to sign her autograph... ha!

Actually...the truth is.  The one friend had to show me that SARAH CLEMENS was featured in this magazine, along with herself...Staci L. Smith.

Otherwise, I would have never known.  

Staci is a jewelery artist.  And is super, super awesome to work with.  I tell you!!!!!

I own several pairs of earrings and pieces of her jewelry... different style than what you see here.  What is featured here in this magazine is a collaboration with another artist and they each made beads to make a "new line" of jewelry.  I think it is still really cool.  Staci was even kind enough to make all the jewelry I needed for the girls in my wedding.  I love Staci, so much.

Check out her Etsy Shop, as well.

I tell you what!  What a treasure... to now have this magazine in my possession. Although, to be honest, I have never even heard of Belle Armoire before...and, I'm not so sure that ALL of it's content is all that "modest"...I'm just saying. I had to be real with you.  Okay?

But, right now... I only love it, because two of my friends are featured in it - at the same time.  Isn't that sweet??  I think so..

I heard that Belle Armoire only comes out twice a year!  So, look for it... it's available in several different locations: JoAnn's, Walmart and Barnes & Noble, I believe.

By the way.

This skirt...

Is a Sarah skirt!  You can't see them... but I'm almost positive I am wearing a pair of Staci's earrings.. to match.  ;)

This skirt was given to me, by another friend.  Which makes it even more special - if I should dare say so myself.

 (Psst... Sarah has been commissioned to make me two more skirts... when she finds the time!  Seriously.)

Check out Sarah's Etsy Shop, as well.

***

So, there you have it.  I just wanted to brag up on a couple of my friends.

I want to also wish you a wonderful, wonderful weekend.  And, God bless..

Oh, and thank you for your continued prayers... I appreciate it greatly.

Introducing Sarah!!

My real-life friend, Sarah, has the best thing going for her right now. I absolutely love her artistic style, her crazy talent, and am completely amazed with her abilities and stamina to be able to do all of this and be a stay-at-home-mom, to three amazing kids, all while homeschooling them at the same time. Her hubby even helps with the photo shoots. I think its great!!

I asked her if I could give her a "shout-out" on my blog, and she said, "sure!".

So, please check out her clothing shop here. I think you'll like what you see...keep in mind that she is always adding new designs to her clothing line. Let her know what you think!!



: : I really hope to own one of her pieces of wearable art, myself, one day!!