I have been wanting to post for so long, but have been too busy to even think straight!  I just hate this busyness.  You know, I love the kind where you are busy, but are having fun and getting something accomplished.  And then there is this, running around like a mad woman, starting things that I don't get finished as I get sidetracked by something else, and generally living in a state of chaos.  As I usually stupidly do, my quiet time with my Lord has been cut out, and I miss Him, and I miss sitting at His feet and learning, and just having a snuggle!!  My dh is MEGA stressed at work.  Last week he discovered that someone who has been involved with his business for a long time was stealing from them, and he got caught on video stealing a computer system. My poor bubbly hubbly has been so sad ever since.  I don't think he will ever get out of this funk he is in.  He is way too overworked and he is very stressed out.  Of course, we often bear the brunt of this, but we are trying to be cheerful!

I have some soap orders to process, and once I can figure out my camera and how to pst here, I will post them on the bubblesandsqueak blog.  I am trying to get my newsletter done, and was hoping to before Valentine's Day, but I am repidly running out of time.  ARGGHH!!!

I just did a training session with a 5th degree black belt sensei ( Renshi) from Virginia.  Wow, that was an interesting class.  I did things that I didn't think I would ever be able to do, and lived to tell the tale!  Now that I am a brown belt I get to do lots of teaching and I love it.  I am learning a new but difficult kata right now, called Passai Sho, but it is coming.  I just came from my sensei's house, and both she and her partner smoke.  I absolutley reek of smoke, in fact, I can hardly stand to smell myself!  I am working on a fundraiser for our dojo ( since we take karate for free, we have to do various methods of fundraising), and will be preparing some soaps.  I would like to do one called KIAI  which is "spirit shout" in Japanese.  I will let you know how that progresses!

As for trying to keep a simple life going, I have come to the conclusion that I really don't have a clue how to do it, and I am hoping it is not an elusive dream.  I so badly want some calmness and contentment in this house.  I do not do well with chaotic living conditions!!   I want to sit down and plan my garden this year, but have had no time.  I would love to do an espalier of apple trees across the backyard, so I am looking into doing that.

At any rate, I must go and jump in the tub and get this smoke off me!!  I will be posting shortly about my garden plans!