Pondering The Simple Life

 Several of my favorite bloggers are still suffering from the cold. We are about to gear up into the nineties. It's easy to break into a sweat during the midday.

 This has been one of the most wonderful springs ever. We have had so many perfect days that I have almost quit blogging (not on purpose). I just cannot seem to find the time to sit down inside and read or write! I am not working that much but I have put my lounge chair to serious use and actually have a tan. I'll leave that to your imagination, no bathing suit pictures. Nope not ever. All those dimples would make you think there had been a hail storm, scar you for life.

 These are old pics and the side yard is a now a blitz of color but out of respect for those suffering cold,
I won't show off just yet. At least that's my story for now. Maybe later in the week.

 You can see little pops of color and think about spring. God is no respecter of persons, He has no favorites and your spring WILL come.

 This man who predicted the end of the world is going to have some explaining to do. Especially when the Bible says, that no man knows the hour or the day, NOT EVEN THE SON. If Jesus says so then I think that settles it. You can always trust the red letters. The sad thing is how much money this guy made. It's shameful.

  We have had some crazy happening lately. All over the world, but no one can predict anything. Christians are called to watch and be observant and live as if this is our last day but never act like we know more than God.  It keeps your priorities in order. Cancer patients live that way. They focus on each day and have so much gratitude for a good day. That is newsworthy!
My family is so fortunate to be far from the flooding. So far we have not been hit by any tornado's.  We never have. They seem to travel in the same places each year. I feel very blessed to have my home and be spared from the suffering that these people are going through.

 See that concrete in the background? This Zenia is in a driveway crack. Could it be a little reminder to bloom where you are planted? Aren't seeds amazing? A little packet of seeds that can fit in your hand, makes a whole crop. Think about what three seeds in a cucumber hill will produce. Maybe as we have moved away from the land and sowing and reaping we have lost the ability to believe. If you just look at seeds they don't look like much....they don't look like anything. Once you plant some you become a believer.

 We are living a life of more faith. The old roof is getting replaced because God has provided a way. I am so grateful for that! Hopefully I will find a bargain on paint.  We are ...excuse me I stand corrected, my husband is going to paint the house this summer, it needs it.  I'm thinking about a change of colors since it has to be done anyway.  I'd like him the build some new shutters and stain them. I'm thinking about a dark rich green (like my laundry room) and some wood.  He won't change the trim color because it'd be too much work, but maybe he'll go for cream instead of bright white. The new roof is going to be brown.  Jennifer picked the color. I'm a bit nervous because no one has a brown roof here but she has good taste. It is also the lightest color choice and that is good for reflecting heat.

I have been working at sewing but not made anything yet. Isn't that a funny thing to say? I'm altering clothes. I reworked an expensive white cotton blouse to fit Jennifer perfectly. She loves it. I haven't ever done anything like that. I just kept pinning it while it was on her. I ended up taking it down a lot! It was a size 20 and now it's probably a 12. The sleeves came off completely and I cut them down. I'll take a picture because it turned out really well. The dresses I bought at the yard sale all need to be taken in and so do my pants. I have been hemming and mending, you know making do.  The Hunny's laundry bag fell apart so that is the next thing to make, it only lasted  20 years. My friend gave me the perfect fabric to remake it.
I have been going back to my roots. Making things from scratch, fixing clothes and living as inexpensively as possible.  A friend of mine told me about HOME MADE laundry soap! The Dugger's have a recipe on their blog and she made it. She told me it works fine. I am going to buy the ingredients tomorrow and fix my first 5 gallon bucket of it. I have some nice essential oils for fragrance.
http://duggarsblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/duggar-recipe-liquid-laundry-soap.html

I also read a tip on stretching fabric softener. Get a bottle of your favorite liquid softener and pour it into a bucket. Fill the fabric softener bottle with water and add it to the bucket two times.  Keep a designated sponge in the laundry room the you dip into this and ring out. Toss the sponge into the dryer. You can imagine how long the softener will last using a wrung out sponge! I read testimonials that it works and I'm willing to give it a try. I'd like to make that myself too if it's cheaper.


 The simple life. I want it enough to grab it with both hands and also let go.