Down Mulberry Lane

Pics from camp meeting

I didn't have my camera with all the time, but here are a few pics of our time at camp meeting. 

This is Megan and Linda.  We brought Linda with us.  It was her first time to camp meeting and she really enjoyed it.  The car ride is long and the girls listened to some music and watched a DVD on the way, I believe. 

This is Paige sleeping in the carseat.  Car rides are especially long for her.... construction took us on a couple detours that we hadn't planned for. 

The girls were just talking at the memorial park at the academy.  This was one of Paige's favorite places to stop (It was also just before her class, so we had to keep her focused as to where she was going).

This is another view of the same little memorial. 

These three are Paige on the homemade waterslide.  They have a sewn form underneath.  They cover it with a heavy plastic sheet.  Squirt dish soap on the plastic and run water down from the top and half way down to keep the plastic wet.  The kids get to sliding down quite fast and at first Paige wasn't too sure about it, but she enjoyed it a bit more each time.  Paige rode down on her tummy; she rode down backwards;  she rode down with a noodle; she rode down with friends.  She only quit because they got the popsicles out and it was time to go.  She was chilly (they use just water from a hose), but had a big smile on her face.  Here's some more fun water shots...

A view from the top... Paige is in line behind one of the teachers.

Paige's first time down... a bit stiff and unsure.

Back up again!

On her back!

with a noodle!

Landing in bubbles.

With friend Thea from our home church.

With another new friend.

Popsicle ending at the waterslide. 

Paige at crafts.  They made telephones that day. 

Snack time... popsicles again... it was a really hot day this day!  The kids and MOM's were glad for this snack!

Story time with Pastor Dave.

Paige is in upper row, still in story time.  They held their classes in the music rooms so the Kindergarteners could sit on the risers.  They used the new SDA readers from the new reading program.  Paige really enjoyed them and wants them... now where to find them...

Activity time had various activities.  The kids especially liked this one.

Last one, the kids sang in the adult auditorium one evening.  Paige started out in front, but later got pushed to the back when the kids wanted to get on the microphone (which was off... the adults know better!)  Paige's class had between 45 and 60 kids each day... more on Sabbath. 

Sorry it was mostly all Kindergarten adventures... that's where I had my camera... I didn't bring it to the other meetings!  I didn't even take a picture of our camp site... and I try to do that each year...

Warmly, ~Melissa

Well, I am back, so hopefully I can get back to blogging!

We attended camp meeting in MN.  We had a good time.  Well, we had a trying time for the first half.  We discovered that Paige truly does have a problem with food coloring.... red affecting her the worst.  We had allowed her to get some of those Koolaid packets for water bottles and the purple caused her stool to turn bright green and she pooped SOOOO much, poor kid.  Then she tried a red one and man-O-man, did she get extremely naughty.  Rolling around on the floor, saying she hated class, she wanted to leave...the only thing she enjoyed was running around during activity time in her  class... and run she did... I think she felt so wired that was the only way she could feel normal.  So, we took the food coloring away and I missed a couple meetings trying to manage a little one that refused to obey.  Once it wore off... she returned to her pleasant and obedient self.   Dh saw the reaction and decided that she really does have a problem and we will go back to natural food colorings again.  *God is good!*

The meetings I got to attend were very good and I'm glad I got to attend the ones I did.  Others sounded interesting, but Paige needed me to be there in her class, so I stayed with her.  (She ran away once while I turned my attention to a little girl in her class and I looked up and she was gone... apparently a boy had taken the ball away from her and she got upset and decided to pout on the other side of the building (This was when still on the food coloring).  I decided to stay and keep tabs, since no one else saw her escape from class, either.  I did have fun with the Kindergarten class... they need helpers anyways to manage all those kids.  And by the middle of the week, Paige was again enjoying her class, which made it better for me as well. 

Camp meeting is such a blessing for me.  Some years I enjoy the messages with pure joy.  Some years, I am sorely aware that I need to make some changes and repentence is strongly felt.  This year was one of those years.  It was not a sad time, though, but one that really refreshed my walk with God.  That can never be a bad thing.  *Ü* 

Later, I felt a need to apologize to a few at camp meeting for making a teasing comment... which they took lightly anyways, but I felt bad that I had joked... teasing is not a gift of mine and I don't take teasing well myself, so while apologizing, I felt impressed to encourage a couple gals and they both cried tears at needing to hear what I had said.  Crazy... I likely wouldn't have encouraged them, had I not felt the need to apologize for teasing them... and it appeared to be just what they needed.  *God is so good!* 

Coming back home was nice, although I saw that I had a HUGE job ahead of me.  I still am not finished cleaning out the camper, as the first week back it was high 80's and high 90's with high humidity and no wind... not a breath of wind... my laundry just did not dry and it was all over the house (trying to dry)!  With the high temps and high humidity, brought scattered storms which kept me from doing too much in the garden.  I did go out and attempt to weed, until I was sinking in mud and causing more problems being out there then if I just left it alone until the ground would tolerate me walking in the garden! 

I did get a trip in to pick strawberries, which was wonderful!  We made freezer jam, which didn't set, but I hadn't made it before, so I am unsure when the pectin sets... I want to pick one more day and get enough berries to make some cooked jam... and more in the freezer for smoothies!  

The garden was a bit depressing for me.  Today I got a lot accomplished in the garden.  But in looking at what was lost from weeds or seeds simply not coming up... I think we lost 1/3 of our garden.  We tilled the corn, beans and okra areas under and will try to replant and hopefully the seeds will grow this time around.  The other rows of cabbage and beets and swiss chard and peppers... and other things... had about 3-5 plants per row (15-20 feet per row).  So, I have most of that weeded and hope to replant in the blank spots after the other seeding is done.  It is not all bad... my box garden looks very good, except for my pepper box... I lost all but 2 of those... the water jug tops we cover them with didn't allow any moisture in the box, so they dried up... That was weird since I cover things in the large garden with water jugs (with the top open) and they do just fine.   

All in all, I think our gardening is going much better than in past years.  (even with the corn, bean and okra loss).  Layering seems to be quite helpful in slowing down the weeds.   The vine garden is doing quite well.  We are in the process of trying to find something to layer over the ground to keep it from weeding up when the vines spread out.  The onions are doing well.  And I've already enjoyed fresh lettuce, spinach and arugula.  Today I harvested my first radish... so things are growing! 

I truly have garden hands... they have been scrubbed and they are sore, but they are still stained green and there is a dark staining in the lines of my hands.  I think I will cut my nails and head off for bed.   

Warmly, ~Melissa

Spring cold or allergies... UGH!

Yesterday I woke up with a headache and half my nose plugged, but I could still breathe and it ran like someone turned on a little faucet every hour or so.  Today, I woke up with a headache and my nose completely stuffed and a slightly scratchy throat.  Nice weather and I get sick.  But all the trees are in blossom, so possibly my nose problems are allergies as my eyes itch and I'm sneezing like crazy.  Whatever is causing it, I hope it doesn't last too long! 

Two of my girls are taking Driver's Ed right now.  It is good for them to be in the same class and it saves driving evenutally as the class is 40 miles away and we have to make several trips.  Their cousin is also in the class, but it appears they don't "talk" much.  My daughter said, "If public school is anything like Driver's Ed, I never want to go. "  They will endure the class, but they are very shocked with the classroom social structure.  Seeing peer pressure in it's glory is not what they expected.  They couldn't believe all the kids who talk back and fuss in class, showing no respect to the teacher.  They just aren't impressed.  Even today they told me they'd rather graduate LATE... meaning a year late rather than having to go to public school.  They've gone to two classes so far and are counting the days until they are done!  

I had my last visit of the year with our homeschool supervising teacher.  It went well.  I am not really seeing an end in sight to school, so it's not like a relief... whew that's over... no, it is just a break from visits for a few months until the next year's visits begin once again.  I get along well with my supervising teacher.  She has been a good friend over the years and I praise God that He led us to her. 

Not much else done today.  I did chores and did school.  I really need to bake some bread... maybe tomorrow!  *smile*  We'll see what happens. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

Today's Activities...

Just journaling my activities.

Cooking

Breakfast:   Bagels and fried eggs.

Lunch:  Soup and peaches.

Supper: Quesadillas

Garden

Planted 5 boxes of flower seeds.  Planted one box of salad greens.  Watered all the boxes and my layered boxes that are still waiting for some plants. 

Measured out the large garden to see what I could plant this year.   We are making some changes, so I need to modify my plans. 

Yard

Picked up all the branches from the pruning of our apple trees and gathered them into a neat pile for later burning. 

Put away folding chairs and table from supper the evening before.  (There is a chance of rain after midnight).

Camper:  Aired out... Paige played in it... tried packing her clothes from her dresser to pack into the camper so she was ready for camping... I caught her and sent her back to put her clothes back into the dresser.  She wasn't very happy with me... *grin*

Scoped out the back woods.  I was looking for a place to plant some pumpkins.  There is a sunny patch that "might" be safe from falling trees (we have several trees that are dead and ready to come down.  Dh wants to wait until fall, but strong winds often catch a couple.  I saw 3 trees that fell over the fence this spring and are in need of cutting up so we get them out of the farmer's field next to us.  I wandered around a bit seeing how much it has changed in the last two years... We've had 50 or more trees die... not from disease... they all just aged and have lived their full life.  I found that from some of the older large trees dying, new smaller trees have come to life.  I noticed a maple tree that has put on size since last year.  There is also two plum trees, a few mulberry trees and possibly a pear tree???  I can only hope, but the buds look awfully similar. 

Chores

Laundry.  A load of towels.  Started a load of blues. 

General Pick Up.  The kitchen needed some picking up.  As did the living room and bathroom.  Girls helped. 

Egg sorting.  Emptied the egg fridge and sorted the eggs.  The dogs and cats got about 2 dozen scrambled eggs from eggs that were cracked or too dirty and were put away without washing.  Had my daughter take 10 dozen eggs to town with her.  (we sell at a local health food store).  We've been getting about 4 dozen eggs a day.   The eggs took me nearly 2 hours to sort, wash and pack away. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

I got some new clothes...

Today I took the girls shopping for some needed clothing.  We didn't do too well with the girls for clothes, they got a few things, but not what we were hoping to find.  I however was able to find 2 pairs of jeans and a sweater... all three on clearance and all three "half off" their clearance price! 

The best part of it to me was to find that all the pieces were a size smaller than I had been buying in several years... a Small sweater instead of a medium.  And 8P pants instead of 10's or 12's.  The pants are a bit snug, but not so snug to be uncomfortable, which totally thrilled me.  I actually started with 10's and they were just a bit too baggy and I knew I'd be unhappy with them if I took them home... after an hour or so of wearing, they'd be really baggy... so I got the 8's.  I'm hoping this summer will find me toning up a bit more and hopefully I can stay comfortably in my size 8's!  My pants are comfortable now, they are just more snug than what I'd prefer to wear to town... stretchy denim can feel good, but still look a bit too tight.  I will likely wear these pants at home... and by mid summer, I hope to find some 8's that are a bit more modest looking for town. 

My next summer's goal (2010) is to reach a size 6.  I've got myself on a very slow road of progress.  I figured I've been in 10's for about 5 years... so stepping back one size a year seems to be a healthy way to work at my goals.  It has been about 10 years since I've been in a size 6.   And about 15 years since I've been a size 3 (that was even after 2 babies).   Slowly life slowed down... I found more to do in sitting positions and when I quit my nursing job at the hospital, I started putting on weight... I imagine I walked 20-30 miles a week just with work, so quitting that job and not replacing that activity... I just slowly added the weight on.  But now it is time to let go.  When I hit a size 12 last summer, that was about all that I could take, LOL.  I hit my breaking point... 149.5 pounds and a size 12.  Both of which for some reason I put in my head early in life that if I ever get to that weight... I will slap myself silly and shake my senses back in and make health a priority.  Funny how that must of just stuck all these years and I didn't even flinch until I saw the size 12 and the 149.5 pounds at the doctor's office the month before!  CRAZY! 

I don't throw those numbers out to offend anyone, not at all.  I am a very petite framed person and this on me is a large amount... it puts me into the category of obese!  Not just overweight, but obese.  I just in the past couple months got myself into the "overweight" category... which is an improvement.  When I lose 10 more pounds, I will be out of that category and in the range of less than 10% over my ideal weight!  It seemed an impossibility about a year ago when I learned I had gotten as big as I had... I was pretty discouraged over my weight.   I started measuring my size each month, but I quit last fall as I was only losing about a 1/4 inch each time and I was wondering if that was just me holding the measuring tape differently.  But I guess 1/4 inch over a few months... will drop you down a size!  I've realized that I am glad I didn't just give up or think it was hopeless.  My husband went on a diet around Christmas time and lost 20 pounds in about 2 months time and he looked so much better and I was like... here I've only lost 6 pounds at the time(6 months since I started eating better) from my 149.5 pounds and that was discouraging, but to keep DH encouraged and continuing on his path to health, I instead focused on him and having the entire family eating better.  Perhaps taking the focus off me helped, as I wasn't paying so much attention and the last month my clothes have been a real drag... just bunching up and pooching out in funny ways and I figured I had gained weight, but was pleasantly surprised when I tried on my clothes to find that I had dropped a size... Imagine that?!  LOL

So my thought for today... is never give up... Good health is worth the effort, the change of lifestyle.  It's not a diet that I will likely gain weight back on because I will continue to eat better, and hopefully I will continue to exercise and keep myself active.   I feel better and I sleep better and that alone is great motivation!

Warmly, ~Melissa

Heading to bed early tonight...

Hmmmm, we'll see if that happens, eh?

Today was a full and busy day.  We took our ping pong table to the church and assembled it and stored it away.  We had a few trials with putting it back together, but Steve was a definate trooper... remaining much calmer than I thought, even when the top of the table came crashing down on him as he laid beneath it.  He just laughed it off, as well as when I smashed his hand into a wall as I was directing the table top down the stairway.  *sigh*  Poor guy had enough to put up with, with me around! 

After putting the ping pong table away, I grabbed him quickly to help me move a tv stand to the basement to put the tv on (that was originally on it).  The tv had been moved to the classroom that I used and put onto a table that I use... so it was in the way and the stand was sitting in the way in the mother's room... So, it is all put back together and it is out of my way and mostly usable, short of a missing cable wire to connect things to the tv. 

We then went out to the landfill and got a pick-up load of compost.  Dh laughed as he noticed some small worms in the compost.  He wasn't expecting that.  I was glad to see they had found their way into the compost. 

We got home and decided to put together a few more boxes for our small garden area.  We filled those with newspaper and compost.  I will likely add a bit more to the boxes later, but we were unloading the truck.  I then started my 3 cans of potatoes.  Steve said the garden was looking so nice and then I had to stick these 3 large cans on the one side with my potatoes.   I then moved the cans so that the large one was in the middle so that it looked "nicer".  He laughed and said it didn't help.  I offered to paint them on a warmer day... today the paint would have struggled to dry!  He said maybe that would help.  LOL. 

I came inside and then made supper and have been trying to relax ever since.  My body is sore, but it feels good to have worked. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

Rainy Days...

We have had a run of rainy days around here lately.  I've enjoyed the pattering on the roof.  The rain has given me a break from the garden.  I needed to find something else to fill my days and I looked around and decided our home is too cluttered. 

Oh, through the past two years, I have decluttered alot of "stuff".  Papers.  Stuffed Animals.  Clothes.  Even a good amount of books.  However, in the past two years, I've also been gifted with a lot of books, a lot of papers, and a lot of clothes!  I struggled with progress! 

As I looked around, I saw things I'd like to have more time to do, things I enjoy.   However, space is limited as it is in every home and my home in it's current state had little space to afford for me to work comfortably with sewing and card making.  Neither require a great amount of space, but they do require some space.  Having a sewing machine on a half wall behind a huge lazy boy recliner rocker with a narrow walkway between my computer desk... well... that was just TOO much stuff in that area.  The girls called that area "Mom's spot" but the only thing I was able to really do was get on the computer. 

We have a ping pong table in a room upstairs and when used, it can be alot of fun, however for the past few years... no one uses it.  The girls are older and enjoy their time with Dad in the evenings.  They also choose other activities over ping pong day after day.  I decided it was time to let it go.  One daughter didn't care.  The second daughter didn't say anything but wasn't upset, she knows she prefers other activities.  The third daughter sunk her head, because she'd love to play, but no one ever is willing... she knew that and hadn't been able to get anyone to play in the past 6 months. 

I will be taking our PP table to our church.   It is in very nice condition.  It folds for storage and will hide quietly behind the stairway in the basement.  It will likely get used as much as it does at our home... once or twice a year.  *grin*   When the church no longer wants to store it, we have an alternate home for it as well. 

This indeed lightens the load in the house.  Last night I began the transformation and I am impressed that things may be less crowded all around due to that one piece of equipment being removed from the house.  I moved my computer area with the file cabinets into the room where the PP table sat.  It sits along one wall, but the center is quite open.  It will easily accomodate the remaining furniture that is left behind.  And all of the items will be able to be used.  Before my filing cabinets were placed in odd areas and I wasn't able to access them with ease, now I can.  This will reduce alot of the loose paperwork around the house due to that fact. 

In the other room where my computer desk once sat, I have moved my sewing area to my desk area, so it is not hidden behind a chair.  The chair then moved back against the wall and a more open feel to that room was accomplished as well. 

I would share with pictures, but I am no where near being done in cleaning out those two rooms.  The ping pong table is unassembled waiting for a not so rainy day to transport to it's new home.  The blankets that I stored under the PP table are still in the middle of the room in need of a new home (and it will get one, I just have things to move around... I know where they are headed.  And my sewing area, doesn't look wonderful as I have about 8-10 boxes of books currently for sale on half.com or posted on PBS.  Everytime I get ready to give them away, I sell one or two.  There is a rhythm of 1-4 books a week.  So if I am patient, I am able to reduce that lot and trade for other books in our library or church library... or sell and make money for the church or myself to reduce our debt.  I have sifted through those books, and given away the more tattered looking books.  The others left are still very nice books.  I recently went through my quilting book stash and removed 8-10 items from my stash.  I realized I could never accomplish all of those projects and I settled on keeping only the books that had projects that I was likely to be able to complete...  *sigh* 

Anyways, still more work to be done, but I saw a little progress and I am so glad.  My heart is lighter.  It is so nice to see improvement and I won't miss the PP table one bit.  One thing I have been praying for is that... that I can let go of "things" so that our life can be simpler, that we surround ourselves with things that are beneficial to our lives and things that can be done.  So we lead a full life, yet not one yearning of all the things we could have done, because the reminders are sitting in a box or are in the middle of the floor, etc.  Being content with our life as we live it is important.  It took me a long time to learn, but I am learning. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

Sabbath Blessings...

Today we enjoyed an unique day at church.  I am sharing mostly to record my thoughts on the day. 

I got to church right on time, quickly slipped downstairs to my classroom and got the last minute items adjusted for the kids who might show up.  My daughters showed up a few minutes behind me in another vehicle, since they would be staying for the nursing home ministry later in the day.  They got the food over to the kitchen and headed over to the church.  I went upstairs to wait for the kids... Mine came in and I directed them to start the nature segment if I didn't return from the kitchen to finish slicing up the carrots that they had brought in for me. 

I got back a few minutes later and saw that there were no kids arriving.  My oldest, Kate, took watch for any primary, juniors or earliteens who might show up...and I took my youngest down to her classroom.  Her teacher had not come, so I sang songs with her that I knew and we played a couple of her songs currently in her program.  We played a Bible game and then another little girl joined us.  We read two books and then sang a song and prayed to close their Sabbath School time.  By that time the girls had warmed up to me and each other and were ready for another "hour" of class, but it was time for the church service, so I took them with me as I went downstairs to my normal classroom and shut lights off and headed upstairs to prepare for the worship service. 

Church service was another type of testimony service.  It is a nice way to get to know your church family.  Our new pastor has been planning these for the last Sabbath of each month and they are enjoyable.  We sing, pray, share favorite scriptures. or ones on our heart that really brought us through the past week.  We have a time of testimony of where we can share God's hand in our lives the past week/month with all that are present. 

It is a wonderful time to see God's hand in action, seeing Him work in our church families'  lives.  This week was expected to be a small attendance, but it kept growing and growing and I think we had a fuller church than we've had in a long time.  All were blessed, I believe as people lingered and talked for a long time afterwards.  Potluck was delayed because people were still over at the church "visiting" with each other.  It is nice to see the members and visitors smiling and enjoying each other's fellowship. 

I heard comments from others that they enjoyed the fellowship.  They enjoyed the Bible sharing.  They didn't even mind that church ran a bit long, because there was NOTHING that they would have deleted from the service today.  Even my girls were smiling... well 3 of them were... my 4yo thought it was a bit long and after potluck we went home and fed our bottle lambs and came in for a nice long nap, which she enjoyed and I will say it helped her disposition tremendously! 

Warmly, ~Melissa

Potluck...

After church we had a potluck.  After recently revising my home menu, I found it a bit comical when the gals who "theme" our potlucks decided to have a potluck of "new recipes, only".  I'm guessing they are wanting some fresh ideas as well. 

I looked through several cookbooks before I found something that I had on hand and seemed like it would work for a potluck.  I made a chickpea sandwich spread.  It was tasty, although my own daughters did not like it.  It was seasoned with lemon juice and dill and they are not fans of that, nor did they like the crunch of the celery and onions... I had put it onto buns, but I think pita bread would have been better.   The other thing I made was spiced carrots.  My kids didn't like that either, but I did.  Sweet carrots cooked and coated with a cinnamon/sugar/salt topping that ended up tasty.  Mmmm! 

Other items that were new were ... vegan mashed potatoes (we have them at home, but not the person who made them).   A lemon cake with real lemons in it and on it... very interesting!  Sweet potatoes with succanot.  A pasta salad which was very interesting.  Tasty and crunchy and creamy.  I'm sure all the dressing wasn't super good for me, but it did taste good.  A gal brought a plate of fresh veggies and dip and tried some new pickles... everyone assuring me they weren't spicy... but they were... LOL.... "no, not spicy at all, they're just bread and butter pickles"... the jar said "Zesty bread and butter pickles" but they didn't tell me that and one bite and my mouth was fired up enough for a day... I just don't do well with spicy food... I seem to be very sensitive to hot peppers.  Others thoroughly enjoyed the zesty pickles.  *grin* 

All in all, it was a different, but fun potluck.  The worry of people liking your food was gone... I didn't care... I hadn't tried the recipe before, so it was new to me as well.  We all found a couple recipes we'd like to keep on hand.  

Warmly, ~Melissa

Amending Taxes

While doing my taxes this year, I found that I had forgotten to put mileage in our farm expenses the year before.  I was shocked that I forgot.  I then checked to see if it would be worth amending our taxes from 2007 and I found out that it would help the finances out quite a bit.  After amending them tonight, I found that we will get back over $400 between state and federal taxes! 

I also did my daughter's taxes today.  We were confused about her scholarship funds and after doing alot of reading, I'm pretty sure we figured it out.  Then we tried to deduct her educational expenses and she can't do it because she is listed as a dependent under us.  But we can file for the deductions.  So, that means I will have to refile again to correct this.  This one will be worth it however, because we were in a disaster declared area, and the college is as well, we will get to take an additional credit up to $3600, but our tax was less than that, so only up to what we owed for taxes.  Because of that, we'll get to take the additional child tax credit and I am looking at another refund of over $2000, which we will put in our daughter's college fund, since it is the educational credits that is giving us the extra money back. 

I haven't done the amending of our 2008 taxes yet.  Seems it might be easier to wait until tax season is done, in reality, the coming week is a busy one for us, but I will get to it... and I'm sure my daughter will remind me to get to it. *smile*  We just are amazed at how God is providing for us.  College seemed to be a real fear for us, with me not working, but with scholarships and now tax credits, God is providing a way, bit by bit, for us to afford college.   Even if I amend the return, they usually take around 6 months to process, due to the extra handling that is needed.  That will be just in time for the fall semester.  God is good. 

Warmly, ~Melissa