When we first moved here, almost a decade ago, we had no idea that the property had fruit trees

and berries growing abundantly.  It has been a pleasant surprise as we have discovered, one by one,

what treasures grow here. 

This is one of our mulberry trees.  Mulberries look like blackberries when they are ripe. 

We have found these Mulberry trees growing everywhere. There is one growing over the

fence in the front horse pasture; another one growing right next to the chicken coop (the chickens

seem to love this sweet treat as they drop from the tree); and there are several that hang over our driveway, dropping their treasures on to the black pavement.  But we have discovered most of these

Mulberry trees when trail riding.   

They are easy to harvest.  Take a brown bag, and then just slide your fingers over the branches.

They fall off that easy. 

My oldest daughter, Becky, made me some jam made from these.  Delicious!

(For more show and tells, go see Mary at Canada Girl)

It is a quiet and cloudy Monday morning.  There is a soft rain fall that just seems to keep the ground and the air wet. The small ones are still sleeping and I have just finished enjoying a sweet time of fellowship with Him upon my porch.  I am studying Matthew chapter five.  “Poor in Spirit,” – I have always wondered exactly what that means.  It is the foundation of all the other spiritual graces; it is the first beatitude that Jesus mentions.  I have come to conclude this morning that “Poor in Spirit,” is the opposite of “Self-Esteem.”   For all that we seem to think that this is important in the education of our children, this is not in His Text-Book to teach our children, but rather, the opposite of.  

I am doing much better these last few days – this is good, because it is a busy week.  The event that Rachel has spent much time for all summer has arrived – the 4-H Western Pleasure Horse Competition.   I am very pleased with the 4-H program, and I see a lot of good in it.    Rachel is running ragged, though.  Late nights and early mornings….she had to get up at 4:30 a.m. yesterday, and was in bed just a bit before midnight.  And then this morning, she has to be at the fairgrounds and have her stall cleaned before 8:00 a.m.  I guess this is the part of 4-H that is teaching the virtue of perseverance and strong character.

 The soft rain has now turned into loud thunders. I think we are in for a down pour.  Just the time for me to scoot and get to the fairgrounds….

  I am guessing this has been the biggest blog gap I have had in a while.  Leave it at that I had a rough week and there was nothing left inside of me to look at my pc, let alone, write something.  

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It wasn't the greatest week, but there were some definite highlights that made it a good week, just the same.

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Friday, July 12 – in the evening attended a political type of event. (Can't say that I enjoyed this evening.)

Saturday, July 13 – I don’t remember what happened this day.

Sunday, July 14 – afternoon – 4-H horse competition; dh attended another political type of event.  Our older two went to a youth group activity, and there was not a babysitter for the younger two.  So I stayed at home and had a lovely time with just my little ones. 

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Monday, July 15 – sick

Tuesday, July 16 – visit to Dr. office in Wheaton, Illinois. A lovely day with my husband, who went with me.    

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Wednesday, July 17 – Morning and afternoon spent with my oldest daughter, Becky, at her home, with her three beautiful babies.  As always, I enjoyed myself immensely.

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Thursday, July 18 – Tony’s Saddle Shop – tack for 4-H competition;  afternoon orthodontist appointment.  In the evening went with my dh to a town board meeting, afterwards to a dinner.

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Friday, July 19 – sick again; my two nieces arrived around noon.

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Saturday – July 20 – Made blueberry pancakes for breakfast, turkey bacon.  Made tacos for lunch. I could write a novel about our visit with my two nieces, but I will refrain. Suffice it to say that our visit ended abruptly.

 The priority on the list for Monday, (in addition to exercise), was to pick the remaining cherries left on the tree.  There were other things I could have possibly accomplished this day, but to make sure the cherry tree has been fully harvested would have to be tops on the list.  We made it a family affair and spent several hours gleaning all the remaining cherries – mostly the ones on top.  I hadn’t climbed any trees in a very long time and it reminded me of when I was very young.

Although the day was initially very hot, humid, and muggy, there was a really nice breeze right around our cherry tree. It made our time spent there enjoyable.  Rachel commented on how peaceful it was being here.  I wasn’t sure if she meant the entire ranch, or just this particular place at the time, but I am in agreement with her in either case.

I pitted cherries with Ruthie on the front porch for several hours.  The breeze felt so nice – it just seemed to be the perfect thing to do on a summer day with my young daughter.  I love slowing down and taking the time to do things such as this.

Last night: 4-H practice with the horses at the fair-grounds

On the agenda today:

Horse trainer comes today for a full morning.

Made spaghetti (in crock pot) already for today’s meal.  Meat balls were already in the freezer – since this is a busy day, I was greatly appreciative of this shortcut!  Food was “light” yesterday – I was too busy picking and pitting cherries.  I will probably let everyone serve themselves today.

This afternoon is especially full so I don’t think a whole lot of goals will be accomplished.

We ended our weekend from the lake cottage by meeting Matt and Kristi at one of my favorite restaurants in town.  The lake perch was better than any I’ve ever tasted, and there was this side dish of zucchini, tomatoes, and summer squash that was awesome.

We ate well over the weekend.  I tried several new recipes, and all of them turned out great.  Matt did the grilling – so the new chicken recipe I tried turned out to be over-the-top.  I am going to try to hang onto this recipe until I participate in Recipe Swap on the first Thursday of next month, hosted by Randi.

The lake lends itself to taking it easy.  I sit outside a lot, and while watching the kids swim and play on the sand beach, I catch up on some reading, writing (laptop), and look through cook books.  When I go inside, I might dabble in the kitchen a bit and get the night’s dinner recipes started, then go start a load of laundry before going back outside.

The only exercise I do while at the cottage is swimming.  I don’t undervalue the importance of swimming – especially aerobically – I can feel it in my lungs – it’s just that I probably don’t do enough of it to compensate for my normal routines while on the ranch.

I decided that this week that top on my priority list will be my exercise routines.  So this morning, after getting my husband off to work, I let the kids sleep, and I headed to our den – my personal exercise room.  I started with a ten minute workout with Tamilee, I Want Those Arms, (Natural Journeys), using 8 lb free weights.  There are two ten minute segments on this video.  I do one ten segment on Monday, the other on Wednesday, and a Denise Austin bench 15 minute workout on Friday.  If I miss a day, I just pick up where I left off using the pre-mentioned cycle.  This keeps my arms at a minimum of toned level, but the weeks I have the time and the inclination, I have several videos that are 30 to 45 minutes long for the arms.

I made a phone call, and then came right back to the den to do some of my favorite exercises – Quick Callanetics by Callan Pinckney.  There are three of these videos – Hips And Behind (my favorite); Legs; and Stomach.  Each one takes 20 minutes long.  I usually alternate Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with them, but today, I had the need and the desire to do all three consecutively.

I first seen Callanetics in a movie rental store – it was at least 14 years ago.  I was thirty-six and pregnant with my son Joshua (13).  The jacket on the video made an outrageous claim that it would make you look younger after only about a dozen times of doing these exercises.  Yes, that is outrageous, but I thought, why would they put that on their jacket?  I can be so gullible.  I thought there might just be some truth to it, why not try it.

So I bought it, and throughout the pregnancy of a very large baby (11 lbs) I faithfully did the Callanetics for Legs, and the other; Callanetics for Hips and Behind.    I had decided that if I was going to be large all over for nine months, at least I could try to work on slimming my legs. 

  I was amazed. I did no other exercise except for these, and there was a definite before and after contrast.  After the pregnancy, I continued with these,  doing them at least once a week, as a priority over all other exercises – pilates, yoga, and all the rest of my video collection.  Everything else is considered the gravy in my exercise routines.  I put these at the top of my exercise priorities, and then I do others.

I will add this about Callanetics for Legs – when I first started taking English riding lessons four years ago, from the very first lesson, I felt no soreness afterwards.  This is positively amazing if you’ve ever went riding, especially when one tries to post.  I contribute this completely to Callanetics.

Confession – I have not been faithful with Quick Callanetics Stomach video.  I do it, but if I can do another one besides it, I have.  Why?  Because it’s hard.  But, I have been thinking about that a lot and decided that if I just became as dedicated to it as I have been the other two, my abs would probably not be in the condition their in.  I’ll let you know if it makes a difference….

I don’t think I’ve ever had a nicer July 4^th holiday, or at least that I can remember.

We came to the lake cottage late Thursday night (a little before midnight), and just the arrival of being here sets the rhythm of being “on vacation.”  My bedroom window overlooks the lake, and when my head hits the pillow, I love to feel the lake breeze and listen to any waves softly coming up on the beach.

I had everyone with me on the 4^th (except for Rachel – camp).  A highlight of the day was holding Baby Grace (8 months) on the boat ride.  She was so peaceful, observant, and pleasant. Enjoying the weather, the company of my oldest daughter, Becky, and the boat trip all together at the same time, was something that will linger within me for a very long time.

Rachel was back with us on the 5^th, and this is the evening that Lake Wawasee has its sensational firework display.  Although I am sure we could have seen every bit of the fireworks from our dock, we love to take our boat into the middle of the lake where all the other boaters congregate for the annual firework display. 

We all sat on top of the boat, together, even the two dogs, Logan and Jack, watching the beautiful fireworks and listening to the patriot music that had been provided.  I loved sitting with Jacob snuggled in my lap, and Rachel laying on one side of me, Joshua on the other.  What a wonderful family evening.  This, too, will linger within my soul some very wonderful memories for a very long time.

When it was all over, we climbed under deck and hung out while the boating congestion cleared.  Some played  games, others went to sleep (the kids and I).  When we finally arrived back at dock, it was around midnight. 

Family memories – this is what the holiday’s celebrate for me.

Become A Homeschooled Mom

(Prepare Your Mind for a Lifestyle of Learning)

By Marilyn Howshall

Every summer, I like to read books on homeschooling, and I often only need to pull some good ones from my own library shelf.  This book is one of those.  I’m not sure if this is my 2^nd or 3^rd reading of it, but it is full of valuable insights, It has caused me to stop and think many times.  It’s the kind of book you can read over and over.

A comment made by Marilyn has really captured my thought processes this weekend.  She says that the mind is the gate keeper to the heart.  She encourages us to become as a homeschooled mom, one that is always learning, so that we have a lot to impart to our children.

She suggests not using a packaged curriculum.  It’s not that she says never to use one, or that the using of one is wrong.  It can be used as a starting point, but there are much more effective and long lasting ways for one to teach our children.

She advocates teaching our children principles in which they can live by.  This gave me some food for thought of things to ponder and mull on. 

Since the mind is the gateway to the heart, she challenged me to be more qualifying in the books I read, and what I let into my heart through them. 

We can only make judgments on what is good for our children based on our own experiences and what our mind has been exposed to.  That is why she urges us to become homeschooled ourselves, and chiefly through the study, not just the reading, of God’s Word.

As much as I have been attempting to paraphrase what she has said, I like the way she puts it much better.

 “We are governed and ruled by the heart.  The heart acts upon what the mind feeds it.  The mind is the door to the heart through which knowledge and ideas enter.  As our minds accumulate impressions over the years they settle deep within us and actually govern all that we do.  The decisions we make and the way we respond to life’s situations right down to the most insignificant happenings are based on what our minds have been fed.  Every decision we make, however minor, stems from what we have been taught.”  (pg. 14)

 When we start homeschooling, we love all the freedom and the choices that we have.

We are walking counter-culture-traditionally.  But because our minds our limited to our own experience of school, we really don’t know what freedom and choices we really do have.  I know that this is a struggle I’ve always had, and continue to search to expand my understanding of better ways to impart knowledge and learning.  I like Marilyn’s thoughts because they help me to go in the direction that I already feel an instinctive need to do so.

Our summer days are filled with a lot of fun, but there's a little bit of structure to them, too.

For starters, Grandma volunteered for a continued summer education program for the kids, so

three (and sometimes four) days a week, there are some reading, writing, and arithmetic classes

going on.  This is going to be a big help this coming fall for mom!  I am very thankful for such

a loving and dedicated grandma.

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Secondly, I'm a big believer in teaching that life is not just about "education", it's about work and chores, too.    Everyone participates in the daily management of our home. 

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But there are some chores, that I think that will make some fond memories for the children - like going out to the front yard and picking strawberries, or raspberries, and then freezing them.

On this particular day, I sent the kids out of the house with the mission to go pick cherries from our solitaire cherry tree.

It had just started to mist with a little rain when they left, but I figured a little bit of getting

wet wouldn't hurt anyone.  But, after they'd disappeared from my view, it began to downpour.

I expected them back at any minute, but it didn't happen.  I kept waiting and waiting, and finally figured that they'd slipped into one of the barns and was having a great time there.

Hours later, they came back.  They were laughing delightfully and showing me their bounty.  They were

so proud of all that they had picked - and in the heavy rain!  They never did go to the barns, all that time it was pouring down rain, they kept picking cherries!

I mentioned to them that now it would be nice for them to sit down on the porch and to pit the

cherries.  Wouldn't it be nice for dad to come home each night and have cherries with his ice cream?

I gave them a quick lesson on how to do this, and they all got busy. 

Some of the cherries went into the refrig, but most went into plastic baggies in the

freezer.  They are easy to freeze!

 When it was all done, they posed for pictures....

 And yes, Dad has really been enjoying his vanilla ice cream every night, with scoops of

frozen cherries heaped on top!

Don't miss Mary's Show and Tell...

and....

read Spontaneous Birthday Party for Antoinette to particpate in Mary's Birthday Theme this week.... (I've added pictures)

 (Happy Picture of The Day - my three grandchildren with my 5th- Ruthie (9).)

It wasn’t exactly a great weekend, or even a good Monday.  I’ve come upon an aggravated case of poison ivy/sumac/oak (not sure which).  I thought I could cure this with some herbal concoctions, but not so.  It has spread, and each day I have become more and more miserable.

I tried a lot of things from the drug store, including creams that help stop itching; calamine lotion; Benadryl (an over the counter medication that helps allergies); and a scrub that promised to wash away the poison.

Today, in the late afternoon, I’d reached my misery point.  I had gone to Wal-Mart to get one more product that I was told would work.  After scrubbing myself with this $35.00 product, I now found myself with weeping blisters. I was miserable.

I called my husband – which is what I always do when I’ve reached that point.  After talking to me, he called our family dr. and asked if he would see me asap.   

The Dr. prescribed a cortisone type of drug.  He says it will dry up this condition of mine within a few days.  But until then, with itching and sores encompassing my entire body, I will sign this,

Miserable

Summer is the season I play, rest, and enjoy.  I garden, go trail riding, and get outside a whole lot.  I also use this time for catching up on projects in our home that has been neglected (a back closet is on the agenda), and organizing all the other areas that have been avoided. 

I also like to spend time reading books that pertain to the educating of our children.  I like to meditate on what it is I want to do next year in our school.  What did we accomplish last year?  What do I want to do differently in this upcoming fall?  What will my direction be?  I read the Bible, I seek His wisdom, and I ask for His agenda in the lives of my children.

I often do not need to buy any new books – just pull from the shelves some good ones I already possess.  One of my favorites is a series of small booklets by Marilyn  Howshall.  The particular booklet I was reading this weekend is called, The Science, Art and Tools of Learning.  I underline and highlight when I read.  And if I read something that really hits me as a valuable thought that I need to ponder and meditate on, I close my book and just think. 

While sitting on the dock this morning, enjoying the sun and the sound of the waves, I did read something that made me stop, and close the book.  

“…perfectionism in any area indicates a person may be image-conscious. This is a sin and not to be equated with striving for quality in all we do. Perfectionism standards in the home environment will always stifle and hinder true growth from occurring.  Self-centeredness is at the root of perfectionism because it cares more about external appearances than it does for people.  The second step is to begin laying perfectionism down.  Do not only recognize it in your underlying motivations but acknowledge it to yourself and to God and begin to overcome this hindrance…”  (Marilyn Howshall, Book 1, The Science, Art and Tools of Learning.)

After we unloaded the horses from their trailer, I asked Margie if she'd like to

pick some cherries with us.  "Sure," she said.  We grabbed some bags and off we went.

 We had fun chatting and picking cherries, while our husbands talked about the day's

event at the horse competition. 

 It wasn't but a few hours later, that Margie's children were back on our front porch, with

a warm cherry pie, taken straight out of the oven.  We devoured it quickly!

We never had a better pie - but how could it  not be the best?  From a cherry tree straight

into a home-made pie crust, made with love by our neighbor.  It doesn't get any better than that!

Join us at Mary's Canada Girl!

Monday morning started out very slow.  I felt discouraged about a few things, and I had a hard time getting motivated to do anything.  Before leaving for a dr. appointment in the afternoon, I called Becky.  Was today Abraham’s birthday?  I didn’t have it written down, but I was pretty sure this was that day.  Yep, I was right.  How about a party?  Becky thought that would be nice.  So within seconds, I hung up, called my husband and son at work, and let them know that there was a party at our house tonight – 6:00 p.m.

I packed the kids into the truck, and off we went. The dr. visit first, then to Target to get some gifts, then to get a cake.  I got home 15 minutes before the party was to begin.  Panic.  The house needed some work, the table needed to be set, and presents to be wrapped.   I had moments of doubt that I’d be able to pull this all together quick enough.  The kids all helped, and when Jennifer (my 23 year old niece) walked through the door after getting home from work, she jumped in and helped, too.  By the time everyone got there, we were ready.

It was a wonderful time.  We talked in the parlor, then moved to the table to eat dinner, sang happy birthday, and  Abraham (two) opened presents.  The mood was happy and there was total family unity and love among all present.  It was a wonderful evening. 

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Highlights of the week:

Tuesday –  took our horses to the 4-H meeting at the fairgrounds – It is so  enjoyable to watch the young girls and our horses practice their riding in these classes.

Wednesday – Horse trainer, Tabatha, came and worked with Rachel & Savannah for 4-H; then I had a lesson; then Joshua, Ruthie, and Jacob.  Everyone did well.

Thursday – Went to see my oldest daughter and three babies. This is always a wonderful time.  Holding sweet baby Grace transports me in time to 27 years ago when my first baby, Becky, was born. 

I went riding with Rachel in the afternoon.  We had a wonderful time together. It was a beautiful day and there was a lot to talk about as we went on our trail ride. 

In the evening, I went to a town board meeting with dh regarding a zoning issue for a commercial development.  We went for coffee afterwards with the project engineer and attorney.

(Rachel on Major (#1), Mara on Lady (#2), and Miriam on Gretta (#3)

Friday – I had cut the grass in the fruit tree acres on Wednesday, but when I had gone trail riding on Thursday,  I noticed that our trails  were getting overgrown.  It was going to really annoy me if this week ended without getting more grass cut.   It looked like it might storm, so before the rain began, I got the kids up, and told them it was Friday (our cleaning day).  After the work got started, I hopped on the lawn mower and headed towards the trails. 

As I mowed along the creek, the grass was so high I felt as if I was in a jeep on a safari.  Swallows were darting, a deer jumped out of the bushes, the sounds of the bugs and birds, and the scents of freshly cut grass and mint, - this is why I enjoy cutting grass so much.  It’s next to riding horses…

Saturday –  We spent our day at the Midway Saddle Club in a horse competition.  Had a blast!

When we got home, we went cherry picking on our abundantly ripe cherry tree, and talked with neighbors.

Our vet came around 5:30 p.m. for the AI (artificial insemination) of Lady. This was its own science class.  We watched her do this, and then looked at the specimen under a microscope – not good news, she tells us – less than 50% activity.  She will check Lady in 14 days to see if “it took” (pregnant). If not, we will have to start this all over again next month.  Disappointment – and expensive!

Sunday:

Homechurch in the morning; a semi-pro baseball game in the afternoon; a movie in the evening with our children.

I was at the fairgrounds last night, sitting next to Margie talking about dinner.  I had made my Company Chicken recipe for supper but hadn’t gotten a chance to eat any of it, and I was starving.  I told Margie that her family will have to come over for dinner one night and she can try my new recipe. Then, Margie told me about her easy chili recipe, and I thought it sounded pretty good (and easy).

This morning, all the kids were complaining that I didn’t have any good food in the house – naturally, I haven't gone to the grocery store this week.    No wonder the refrig and cabinets look bare. Then, I remembered Margie’s chili recipe and looked in my cabinet to see if I had a can of baked beans, and then in the freezer I looked to see if I had some already browned ground turkey meat.  Voila!  Our mystery lunch problem solved. With a lot of improvising of Margie’s chili recipe, this turned out terrific!  You’ve got to try it.

Put in crockpot:

1 large can of baked beans (I used Bush’s Honey Baked Beans)

1 pkg (a pound or so) of browned ground turkey meat

2 tbsp (or more) of Spicey Brown Mustard (I used French’s)

2 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce

1 cup of ketchup

1 package of Ortega Chili Seasoning Mix (or just use a tbsp or so of chili powder)

A few drops of hot sauce

I've never had a chili recipe yet, that everyone liked.  It was a meal that everyone just put up with.  But this recipe - it hit the Jackpot!  Everyone loved it. 

This is delicious, easy, and good for you.  Try it!

  I've always had a love for lilacs.  In our area, there are a lot of old

 farmhouses that have these really big lilacs.  Every time I would

drive by them, I would just oooohhhh and ahhhhh.  Finally, a few years ago, I planted my

very own lilac bush.  When spring time came this year, everyone had lilacs. Everyone,

that is, except for me.    Did I plant the wrong kind of lilac bush?  How come

everyone has flowers but me? 

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About a week or two later, when everyone else's lilacs were fading away, (this is in June), I noticed that my lilacs were coming into full bloom.   I found out  that there are different kinds of lilacs,

and there is a late bloomer variety.  

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The story doesn't end there.  Right next to my pretty bloomer, is another lilac bush

that did not bloom.  Again,  I thought I'd planted the wrong kind of lilac.  But, just as soon as the one pictured began to fade, the one next to it bloomed!  I guess I have "late lilacs" and "late-late lilacs"!

Now, if I can just get an early bloomer (and maybe an "on-time" one )  -  I'll be in Lilac Heaven! 

(Visit Mary for more Show and Tell's)

Tuesday:

What was to be a short visit to have coffee with dh, ended up being the majority of the day;   signing a document, paying some bills, meeting with an electrician,  a walk-through of the new office building in its final phases of construction, and finally, a cup of coffee with my husband and son.

Wednesday:

Our horse trainer came and spent time with Rachel and Savannah for 4-H preparation.  It was enjoyable sitting in the sun watching and visiting with the other mom.  After Rachel’s class, I worked in the round pen with Lady.  I am encouraged as Tabatha tells me that my posting is good.  She worked with me on fine-tuning my balance.  Ruthie, Joshua, and Jacob all had a lesson, too.   I am so thankful for this trainer – she has a lot of common sense with both horses, and people.

This is errand day – went to Tony’s Saddle Shop and a few other destinations, but ran out of time.  Still need to go grocery shopping.

Thursday (today):

Does any day go as planned?  It doesn’t seem like it does.  But I plan just the same to give my day structure and to pick and choose priorities.

On the day’s planned agenda:

Get the chores set in motion and work on bills  (8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.)

A visit with my oldest daughter and 3 babies  (10:00 a.m. to 12:00  a.m.)

Return package

Vet visit regarding the breeding of Lady (morning)

Call regarding the salt delivery today (morning)

Grocery store – need quite a few things (on way home from dd)

Electrician meeting (afternoon)

Salt delivery (afternoon)

1 hour and a half of riding (afternoon)

Plan supper (?)

The week has started well.  To start the week on Monday morning, I assigned jobs.  While Joshua cleaned the upstairs bathroom, I went outside to weed the strawberry patch.  Ruthie’s job was to pick strawberries while I weeded, and Rachel sat beside us giving Jack (our golden retriever) a haircut.  It was a beautiful day to be outside.  The sun was shining, and there was a gentle breeze. I enjoyed the company of my two daughters in such a relaxing manner.

 We sat outside together for a while eating ice cream sitting on our swing.  I couldn’t help but absorb the beauty of our moments together – the ability to just sit and enjoy each other and the good weather.  This past year was busier than I would have liked it to be.  I am so glad that it seems to have slowed down, and I’m able to spend time with my children without the pressures of multi-responsibilities to fulfill.

When we finished our ice cream, we went and got some brown paper bags and began to pick fruit from our cherry tree.  It didn’t take too long because there wasn’t a lot that was ripe, yet.  We ate all that we picked.  Then, we meandered over to the mulberry trees and filled our bags quickly.  It is interesting that the taste of the mulberries varies from tree to tree. One was especially sweeter and tastier than the others.

Last week, we went for a trail ride with Lady and Major.  Lady (the horse I rode) had some issues to work through and it wasn’t the most pleasant ride I’ve ever had.  The first half of our trail ride she continually tried to eat grass.  She has been rode regularly for the past month by one of Rachel’s friends that has let her get away with a lot of naughty things such as this one.  The entire ride I worked with her to bring her to an attitude of listening and obeying.  I can see that there is a lot of work this summer ahead of me in horse training.

I’m looking forward today to cutting the grass (one of my favorite things to do); making dinner in the morning (so it’s all ready for tonight); writing a letter to a friend; meeting my husband for coffee; a trip to Tony's Saddleshop;  and exercising.  A very full day!

 Around the picket fence facing towards our home, I have planted white and pink peonies,

climbing roses, purple salvia, and blue hydrangeas.  Every year I plant a few more, and

eventually, it will be a full bed of flowers the entire length of the fence.

However, the side of the picket fence that faces our driveway, is bare.  This year,

I wanted to start some flower planting so that when I drive up, I will see flowers, too. 

 First on my agenda, was hollyhocks. It just seems like the perfect flower for a picket fence,

doesn't it?   I got purple, too, but they looked tired and weren't very photogenic.  

I'm hoping they start feeling better.

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 Aren't these pretty?  Their called Salvia.

Peach colored daisies...

Tangerine colored daisies....

 Red daisies....

 More peach colored daisies...

 Pink daisies...

 And more pink daisies...

 And more pink...

 Yellow snapdragons...  (purple and red, too)

Yellow daisies...

After digging up the above flowers about three different times because I wasn't happy with

 how they looked together, I think I finally got it.  Now, just water, and enjoy!

(Visit Mary for more show and tells)

Monday and Tuesday were spent towards getting the bedrooms in order.  Ruthie needed help in her room – so I spent the majority of my time with her on Monday.  Tuesday was the day I spent re-organizing my room – sorting winter clothes, and pulling out my summer things.  M and T were all work and no play.

Wednesday was just the opposite.  After dh left for work, I hopped on our lawn mower and cut several acres of grass.  I love doing this – it’s one of my favorite things to do. I so enjoy being outside and enjoying the scents and sounds of nature.

Our new horse trainer arrived at 9:30 a.m. to work with Rachel and Savannah for their 4-H preparation.  I sat with two other parents as we watched our girls being taught.  It was a beautiful day to be outside with a gentle breeze and not too hot weather.

When the girls were done with their class, I began mine.  This was my first time with our new trainer, Tabatha.  I was very pleased with her demeanor and feel totally blessed by Him that He allowed us to meet her (a week ago) and that she has time in her schedule to fit us in.  Jacob, Ruthie, and Joshua all had a class, too.

I can’t imagine a more delightful day; cutting grass, picking strawberries, enjoying my children, riding my horse, taking an evening walk and gator ride with my husband, and tending to our chickens.  This  is truly the delight of summer.

Bake chicken – I use skinless, boneless white breasts.  I drizzle a glass pyrex dish with olive oil and sprinkle it with sea salt.  Then I place the chicken in the pan, salt and pepper,  and bake at 325 for about 40 minutes.

When it’s done and has cooled, cut the chicken in small pieces.

Mix in ¼ of a can of frozen concentrated orange juice, approx 1 cup of mayonnaise (or salad dressing), and some chopped celery (water chestnuts are good, too.)

Serve on croissants or on tortilla shells as a wrap with romaine lettuce.

This Week So Far:

Monday: Cleaning the kids bedrooms. 

Tuesday: A morning visit with my oldest daughter and babies; Cleaning my room. Tonight: 4-H western pleasure practice at the fair grounds.

I got this recipe from the cookbook,

Blue Willow Chicken Casserole:

1 cup sour cream

1 can of condensed cream of chicken soup

1 can of condensed cream of mushroom soup

1 cup chicken broth

8 chicken breasts, cooked and boned

2 sleeves Ritz crackers,  crumbled

1 1/2 sticks of butter

Preheat the oven to 350.  Blend the sour cream, chicken soup, mushroom soup, and chcken broth.

Place the chicken breasts in a 9X13 baking dish (For our family, I cut the chicken into smaller pieces (like chicken nuggets).  Pour the soup mixture over the chicken.  Top with the Ritz cracker crumbs and drizzle the butter over the crumbs. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until the crackers are browned.

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Last Sunday, our home church met here at the lake. I dethawed hamburger meat for burgers on the grill for our lunch, but I wasn't sure if I had enough to satisfy everyone's hunger.  So I made this Chicken Casserole recipe just in case.

Result:  This recipe is a sure-hit.   Dr. Bob Williams seemed to like it the most and gave a lot of raves, compliments, and second helpings. 

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Because we had hamburgers, too, there was some of this casserole left.  After lunch, while cleaning up, I took the pyrex dish thatI had baked it in, and placed it straight into the freezer.,  Now, on Saturday, I had a side dish already prepared, only needing dethawing and warming up.

This chicken casserole was as much a hit the second time - left overs warmed up, as it was the first time,  

With this Saturday Left Over meal at the lake, I also served: 

I microwaved 8 potatoes for 20 minutes, cut them in quarters and salt and peppered them when they were done.

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Flank steak - I browned it in the morning, then threw it into the crockpot. I added sliced green peppers, and onion with it.  I poured over the steak about 1 cup of a Merlot Wine Sauce, and 1 half cup of water.  I put it on high and walked away until about 3:30 p.m. when we had our lunch.  Rachel who usually despises steak, loved it. There was hardly a scrap of meat left when our family was done eating.

As another side dish, I made Archer Farms (Target) Spicy SouthWestern Tamale Pie (beans and corn bread).  This is a family favorite (everyone but dad). 

The first week of summer has been everything I could want it to be.  A slower schedule, time spent outside, and gardening.  One of my favorite parts of the week was sitting outside on the swing and talking to my oldest daughter (via phone).  I haven’t seen her in a while as were both busy moms.  Baby Grace (9 months) is up on her knees starting to crawl.  While Becky was telling me all that is new (and vice versa), Ruthie (9) came up to me all excited with an object in her hand.  It was one of her remaining baby teeth that had come out.  Within seconds, Jacob (7) came running up to me, proudly showing me the big frog he had just caught.  It is these little, precious moments that make being a mommy so special.

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The second most favorite part of this week was when I was planting my picket fence flowers.  Rachel had friends over and they were all grooming the horses, listening to country music.  It was just one of those moments that get captured within your soul – feeling the gentle breeze and the warm rays of the sunshine, hearing the sound of the voices of my teenage daughter and her friends, the occasional neighing of the horses, and the country music being played in the background.  I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect moment to epitomize the joy of summer. 

(These were a gift from my oldest son for Mother's Day. He picked all of these flowers from his own yard. ) 

I had a great day yesterday – I bought flowers for my picket fence.  Purple and white holly hocks; pink, yellow, and white snapdragons; purple salvia;  orange, yellow, and pink daisy.  I bought some hanging coral colored flowers for my porch.  I spent way more than I’d planned and I will be saving in other areas to make up for this indulgence! I love flowers.  I celebrate the entrance of summer with a splash of color everywhere.

As soon as I got home from the nursery, I began to dig.  I couldn’t wait for one second to go by to start the process.  It was almost 90 degrees, and I found it hard to even think about the placement of the flowers.  I started having day-dreams and hallucinations about having a professional landscaper placing all these beauties in that “just right” clusters and positions.  But dig away I did.  And when I got them all dug, I started un-digging them right back up, not liking where I’d placed them, and rearranging them.

End Result: The flowers themselves are beautiful.  My placement of them – not what I’d hoped for.  I need to find my notebook that has all my pictures of cottage picket fence flowers and re-do it all over again!

When I tried my new recipe Saturday night at the lake (Oriental Chicken), I wasn’t sure if everyone would like it.  What if it turned out disastrous and no one wanted to touch it?  So, like I often do when I try new recipes, whether it is fish, meat, or chicken, I gave choices.  With eight people to serve for dinner, I used two packages of skinless, boneless chicken (3 per package).  On one skillet, I had the Oriental Chicken cooking, and in the other, I did the following: 

Antoinette's Italian Chicken

Brown chicken in olive oil, season with Good Seasons Italian Dressing (I always stock my cabinets with this – it’s great in spaghetti or lasagna sauce.)

Pour Italian Fat Free Salad Dressing over the chicken (approx. 1/4^th the bottle – maybe one cup?)

Simmer in this dressing until the chicken is cooked through.

Transfer to broiler pan – slice some onions (and green pepper if you have it) and throw it on to the pan, too.

Broil until it looks done – lightly browned.

I served with this meal:

A plate full of potatoes that I had put in the microwave for about 20 minutes.  When they were done, I cut them in quarters, sprinkled them with salt and pepper.

Fresh tomatoes, sliced.

A dish of chicken rice-a-roni

Yoder’s Amish peaches (everyone loves these – I only wished I’d had cottage cheese to serve.)

 My husband loved the Oriental Chicken best; Rachel liked the Italian Chicken best.  It was a win-win.  However, there was some Italian Chicken left on the platter – so I froze what was left and will use it in a future recipe.

Oriental Sesame Chicken Strips

½ cup honey

½ cup orange juice

2 T soy sauce

1 envelope Good Seasons Oriental Sesame Dressing Mix

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Mix honey, juice, soy sauce, and dressing mix in large bowl until well blended. 

I couldn’t find the Good Seasons Oriental Sesame Dressing Mix in the grocery store, so I used everything but this. 

I cut the chicken up into small pieces (like chicken nuggets);

browned the chicken in olive oil;

 and then added the soy sauce, juice, and honey mixture into the frying pan.  I cooked it until the chicken was tender and the liquid mixture had evaporated.

I will look again for the Good Seasons Oriental Sesame Dressing Mix, but even without it, this was a Ten Star meal.  Everyone loved it.

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To Get Done Today:

While buying some flowers for my mom last week at the local nursury, I seen some hollyhocks that I can't get out of my mind.  I want to plant some in front of my picket fence.  I remember last year wanting to do this, but I couldn't find any.  Today, I'm going to go over there and see if they still have some.

Our horses need some things before the 4-H fair practice tomorrow night.

Bedrooms all need to be organized.

Pay some bills.

   (Pictures are from our recent Washington D.C. trip)

Dinner: Salmon, mashed potatoes, creamed corn

The following recipe is not new. I have made this for my family a lot and it is always good.  Dh especially loves it.  Even the kids like it.

Honey Soy Salmon

¼ cup honey

¼ cup soy sauce

½ tsp ground ginger

1 tsp mustard

Mix this together and simmer on stove still all stirred together.  Add salmon, put it on low, cover, and let it simmer  for a while.  I let it simmer on low until everyone is ready to eat.

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The salmon is best if after it has simmered a while, you cut it in smaller pieces - then it has more of the soy honey coating on it. It's really good. If you've never made salmon before, this is a good recipe to try and introduce to your family, even if you only buy one filet for a taster experiment. When I am introducing new recipes that I'm not sure my family will like, I often make a sure and tried entree, and then serve the unsure-of-dish as a side. I do this if it involves meat, fish, or chicken, so I don't waste the entire batch if the family doesn't like it.

Exercise