It's beginning to look like June is finally coming to our house.  I'm still stuck back in May when we got the hail storm.  One vehicle is completely hail dent free now, one vehicle is currently in the shop, and the roof is in progress.

1~Praise God this is almost all behind us!

Over the last week with running here and there, the delivery of materials and roofers banging and compressors humming constantly so many things in the house were put off or delayed that I had a mountain of laundry building.  Yesterday I was able to start on it in complete silence, as the roofers had to tend to another project until Monday (when they'll return to finish ours).  I got quite a bit of that laundry chiseled away until we hit a snag.  My son took colored sharpies to a white tee-shirt - it was amongst all other whites - and in my tired state last night I didn't check each item to see that it was "ok" for the load.  All the colors of the sharpies were fine except of course RED!  I had pink on many things - mostly my husband's work tees... so the whole load had to be soaked sans the creative tee that caused the problem... and then rewashed... now drying.  Sheesh.  

2~Praise God, only two more loads to go.

Now that most of the old roof debris has been picked up and hauled off I am able to get to my veggie garden.  So many blossoms and baby veggies!  Corn is coming, cucumbers, watermelons, pumpkins, hot and mild peppers, tomatoes, squash, etc.  Oh, I'm a happy woman!  Yesterday I was able to start some new seeds in a tray so I'll have new plants when I need to replant and rotate.

3~I am so thankful for a good harvest!

This week marked the very last of "6th grade" in our home.  I am so over the academics for "6th".  We had some math that was hanging around like it paid rent or something and we're all glad to be free from the grip it had.  I am (and I also think my son is) looking forward to the things we're going to dive into for "7th".  That excitement to start something new in the midst of and on the heels of the angst of being done with something old is odd and wonderful... and completely a Christian homeschooling thing!

4~I'm so thankful for the call to homeschool!

Tomorrow is good old, relaxed, nobody's-expectin'-nuthin'-from-me Sunday!

5~Praise God!

LOL, on the heels of talking about the clutter I write about this!  But, in cleaning away the clutter and excess I have to determine what stays and what goes.

There are certain kitchen appliances and gadgets that I find very handy, and though I could live without them - for now, these are items not going into the Goodwill donation box.  They either save time/effort and/or money.

In no certain order, they are:

• George Foreman Grill -  I have the larger one that the grill plates do not remove for cleaning.  It cost less than the one that the plates do remove and I think it has more cooking area.  Clean-up is a breeze so removeable plates didn't merit the extra money for me.  Quick, healthy cooking in little time!  I'll never cook bacon in a pan or the oven again - perfectly cooked with less effort and NO grease splatter!  Bacon was the first thing I cooked with it but it's certainly not the only thing I cook on it anymore.
• Food Saver Vacuum Sealer - I really use the heck out this.  I've had a "cheaper" brand (my first one) and it's one of those things that you really learn the "you get what you pay for" lesson.  One with a strong, quality motor will do the job required of it - anything less and you'll be wasting your time and money.  Not only good for sealing & vacuuming foods (taking the air out of food storage makes it keep longer, cuts waste/expense - everybody knows that, right?) but it's great for sealing non-food items too.  The possibilities are endless.  I love the jar/canister attachment too, after all, not everything is best in a bag container.
• Crockpot - I hardly know anyone that doesn't have a crockpot.  Although, I do know several people that have one and don't really make use of it.  I use to be one of those people!  lol  Not anymore.  What a time-saver this now-common appliance really is!  No longer is it confined to "soups and stews".  There are recipes and techniques for making complete, hearty, "plate meals" out there that beg to be tried.  Gather your goodies in the morning, layer them in, set the heat level & timer and at dinner time you're not preparing dinner - you're eating it - with energy to spare!
• Vita-Mix - Far more than a blender/mixer! You can actually cook soups in it as you blend them.  You can actually freeze ice cream as you blend it.  Oh, and it has a dry blade container in addition to the typical wet blade so you can also grind whole grains.  There's a world of things you can do with this appliance (like cut composting time if you're a gardener, as I am) but with all it's neat abilities the best benefit is to your health.  This is not your run-of-the-mill store bought blender.  It's stronger, has more purpose, and endurance.  Comes with detailed instructions, recipes for everything from soup to ice cream and smoothies, to composting and grain grinding.  Plus, it's information on getting the most health benefit out of fruits and vegetables - another difference from a regular blender, because you can't do with a regular blender what you can with a Vita-Mix.  Clean-up is as easy as a drop of dish liquid, some water, run it for a few minutes, rinse and dry.  I fully expect this machine to outlast me!
• KitchenAid Stand Mixer - To my delight my husband bought this for me last Christmas.  I had wanted one, well, forever!  I love this appliance.  I love the possibilities of it through the attachments available (though, I'll probably go just as long desiring an attachment as I did in desiring the machine!).  It's quiet, sturdy, powerful, and quick.  Another machine I expect to outlast me and my son will probably be very happy to inherit!  lol
• Juiceman Jr. -  Although a lower-power juicer than non-jr.'s (lol) it suits my family's need.  Handy, with the point being the actual juicing part is a "fun" thing to do and concoctions created from various fruits & veggies are interesting and exciting to try.  It's one way of getting very good nutrition into them!  It's also handy for using the juice and/or pulp in recipes and getting the absolute most out of fruits & veggies.  I like that.  (Gardeners - if you don't need the pulp for a recipe put it in the compost pile!)
• Waffle Maker - It has not been used often enough but hopefully now that some of the other junk is gone from the kitchen counters and cabinets it will be!  We love waffles and homemade are so much better than those frozen boxed ones.  Best of all it encourages you to try new batter recipes for flavor and nutrional value.
• Countertop Cereal Dispenser - Ya know, those containers you see at hotels/motels that offer cold, serve-it-yourself breakfasts.  Ours is a dual container model so you get a choice of two cereals at the turn of the knobs.  The reason this is handy for us, and saves money to boot, is before I had this we would buy cereals (which everyone likes to eat) but they were never eaten because the boxes were hidden in the cupboard - we always "forgot" they were a choice until they had been there for months & months = wasted.  With the cereals in constant visual reminder mode they actually get eaten.  And, it's fun to crank the cereal into the bowl! ;-)
• Bottled Water Dispenser - Ours delivers cold, hot, and room temperature water at the push of a button.  The hot water button has a lock feature to prevent little ones (and someone just not paying attention) from being burned.  It also has a very small refrigerator compartment at the bottom - just suitable for storing a few items.  We keep a couple drinks or snack cups in there for quick grabbing.  The one thing I find this most handy for is the hot water feature.  I love a cup of hot mint tea and this provides instant brewing for me.  Also, just having the water in sight is a reminder to drink more water for our health.  And lastly, we live in an area that recieves the threat of hurricanes sometimes so having bottled water on hand is a good habit for us to have "just in case", whether it's kept cold or hot or not.

What are some of your handy kitchen items?

isn't about the home at all. 

Judging by the number of blogs, emails, personal conversations, and websites, books, and programs mentioning or dedicated to decluttering, organizing, cleaning, and motivation to do these things - I'd say the state of the American home is an outright mess!

Ha, I thought it was just my home!  I seriously have fussed and ranted to my son and husband about the condition of our home thinking surely we're the only ones in this pickle.  On some level I'm quite relieved to know that many, many others are right where I am.  On most levels, however, it's no relief at all to know that so many other homes and families are where I am. 

Clutter and excess, piles and overstuffed closets, drawers, and cabinets bother me BIG TIME.  I can't concentrate in a mess.  I'm not fully productive in a mess.  In a mess, I'm in a constant state of agitation. 

I fully believe in little sayings like "cleaning your house while kids live in it is like shoveling snow in a blizzard".  I also fully believe in little sayings like "a clean home is a happy home".

I'm quite sure my home and family's problem is excess.  The clutter and disorganized chaos are not truly the problem, they are the visible symptoms of something deep-rooted and much more destructive than mess.  We have too much and desire more still, we cling to too much and hoard the unnecessary, we collect stuff and things as if they had real value and purpose.  It's inexcusable. 

It's so easy in a society such as ours to become lax and complacent; to become a walking unpaid commercial for every product and item on the market.  Funny thing, all the technology and products were supposed to make life easier, free up time, act as your second set of hands so more could be done with less effort, etc.  And that's how stuff and things are marketed to us.  (A small example:  how much time does the average person, male/female, young/old, spend in front of a computer?!  This lovely reference appliance eats time like quarters in a laundrymat - and frankly, not a whole heck of alot is truly accomplished or can't be done without or done quicker "by hand" or the "old fashioned way".  It's our new tv.  Tangent over.)  The real point:  we don't need nine-tenths of the stuff and things we possess!

I'm over it!  I realized I don't have to be in a constant state of agitation nor do I have to constantly be "on" my husband and son about the clutter and mess.  I realized in order to get my home and family well the disease must be eradicated.  :-)  Over the last couple months I've been slowly, methodically performing the surgery.  Going through closets, drawers, cabinets, clearing off counters and shelves; in general dismantling the beast that threatened to rob me of my sanity and sanctuary!  Oh, I've still got more to do but, boy, do I feel good.  I'm seeing the fruits of my labor.  That's real satisfying for a neat-nut like myself but my husband (who happens to be the "shopper" of the family) and my son ("shopper" jr.) are seeing and enjoying the benefits of this Super Spring Cleaning.  Momma's happier therefore the household is happier!  There's space where space didn't seem to be before.  Being in a clutter-free environment makes everyone feel better, not just emotionally but it is actually physically more healthy.  And guess what?!  There's no super techno-gadget on the market today that can administer that kind of medicine and free up time like not having the same old mess to clean up and fuss about for the 99th time!  This medicine doesn't cost a dime - it's purchased with a little sweat equity and consistancy *and* it never takes up an inch of floor, cabinet, or counter space!  You just can't beat that with a stick.

So the excess goes and in it's place comes knowledge that it's our hearts that need to be full not our house.  There are so many lessons to be learned just from our cluttered up, messy homes; lessons about us, our hearts and what's occupying them.  That little saying "your home is a reflection of you" is true to a degree because how you keep your home says alot about what's going on inside you.  I hope and pray that all those other declutterers out there are on their way to lasting home-health as I am.  Praise God!

Got this in email and thought it was worth sharing/saving:

A sealed envelope - put in the freezer for a few hours, then slide a knife 
under the flap. The envelope can then be resealed. (hmmm..m...) 
====================================================== 
Use empty toilet paper rolls to store appliance cords. It keeps them neat 
and you can write on the roll what appliance it belongs to. 
====================================================== 
For icy door steps in freezing temperatures: get warm water and put Dawn 
dishwashing liquid in it. Pour it all over the steps. T hey won't 
refreeze. (Wish I had known this for the last 40 years!) 
====================================================== 
To remove old wax from a glass candle holder, put it in the freezer for 
a few hours. Then take the candle holder out and turn it upside down. The 
wax will fall out. 
====================================================== 
Crayon marks on walls? This worked wonderfully! A damp rag, dipped in 
baking soda. Comes off with little effort (elbow grease that is!). 
====================================================== 
Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops (like store receipt blue!) 
.... rubbing alcohol on paper towel. 
====================================================== 
Whenever I purchase a box of S.O.S Pads, I immediately take a pair of 
scissors and cut each pad into halves. After years of having to throw 
away rusted and unused and smelly pads, I finally decided that this would 
be much more economical. And now a box of S.O.S pads last me 
indefinitely! In fact, I have noticed that the scissors get sharpened 
this way! 
====================================================== 
Blood stains on clothes? Not to worry! Just pour a little hydrogen 
peroxide on a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood. Works 
every time! Now, where to put the body? LOL 
====================================================== 
Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for 
inside windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks. 
Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean. Don't wash 
windows on a sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will probably 
streak. 
===================================================== 
Spray a bit of perfume on the light bulb in any room to create a lovely 
light scent in each room when the light is turned on. 
===================================================== 
Place fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers and your clothes will 
smell freshly washed for weeks to come. You can also do this with towels 
and linens. 
====================================================== 
Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 
hours prior to burning. 
====================================================== 
To clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add the 
flowers. Shake vigorously as the salt will absorb all the dust and dirt 
and leave your artificial flowers looking like new! Works like a charm! 
===================================================== 
To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two 
of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil 
on stovetop. 
====================================================== 
Spray your Tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before pouring 
tomato-based sauces and there won't be any stains. 
====================================================== 
Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will 
keep for weeks. 
====================================================== 
When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar (no salt) to help bring 
out the corn's natural sweetness. 
====================================================== 
Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your 
forehead. The throbbing will go away. 
====================================================== 
Don't throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for future 
use in casseroles and sauces. 
Leftover wine? What's that?! 
:)===================================================== 
To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and 
you will experience instant relief. 
===================================================== 
Ants, ants, everywhere.... Well, they are said to never cross a chalk 
line. So get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants 
tend to march. See for yourself. 
====================================================== 
Use air-freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job and better still, 
leaves a lovely smell to the shine. 
====================================================== 
When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to 
tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, then 
pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily. 
===================================================== 
Now look what you can do with Alka Seltzer: 
===================================================== 
Clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, 
brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous 
China. 
===================================================== 
Clean a vase. To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, 
fill with water and drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets. 
===================================================== 
Polish jewelry. Drop two Alka Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and 
immerse the jewelry for two minutes. 
====================================================== 
Clean a thermos bottle. Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka 
Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary). 
====================================================== 
Unclog a drain. Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka Seltzer 
tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar. Wait a 
few minutes, then run the hot water. 
====================================================== 
Do your friends a favor. Pass this timely (and some not-so-timely) 
information on to them! I just did. Makes you wonder about ingesting 
Alka Seltzer, doesn't it?

I need input!  Ok, so I got this bug to finally paint these bare white walls and now I'm wanting to back out.  Too late to do that tho because I've already started.  I figured I'd start with a smaller room, a safer room because it's not the first room you see when you walk in the house but also not a hidden room that, should it all turn out alright, absolutely no one but family would ever see.  LOL  Bathrooms were out because they're wallpapered.  Ok, so it's the dining room.

It would have been ideal if I could have moved all furnishings out of the room but I have nowhere I could have put them in the meantime so I scooted everything to the center of the room as best I could.  It's workable.

I chose colors that would work well with my dining table finish and with the drapes and valances that were already in the room - I love them.  I already kinda knew one of my colors was a pain to work with -- in the red family.  Looks burgandy to me but the color name is "apple red".  This is my baseboard color.  The wall color is a medium tan color, sort of like the color of liquid make-up foundation (I kind of hate the idea of that being so, but it is!)  Anyway the colors look well together but here's the area where I'm feeling like backing out or shifting gears....

I toyed very briefly with the idea of removing the baseboards, painting them, and then putting them back after the walls were painted... but I didn't.  I taped up and painted the baseboards in place, first.  I figured I have an edging roller so I can paint to the edge of the baseboard and wall intersection with little worries of messing up the trim. 

It's hot and humid here (south TX) but not so hot I'm turning on the AC yet but I think the humidity has been my enemy with the baseboard paint.  I took up the taping and in many areas (I expected some) I ended up pulling the paint as well.  It's latex paint so it has the consistency of a stretched balloon, sort of.  I honestly could peel it all off rather easily if I chose to!  Waaaaaaaaa.  Maybe it can be doctored, not sure if I want to tho.  I want a good job. 

What to do?  Should I pull the baseboards from the walls and start with new, painting it before fixing it to the walls?  Is there a fix for the paint that's already applied?

I had such high hopes.  Maybe I should have stayed away from the red family.