A Sunny Place

A Source for Bulk Canning Lids!

We have a couple stores around here that sell bulk canning lids. I buy them that way - but never have been able to remember to get the information to post.

I do not know if the lady who owns this store is willing to ship them out for shipping/handling costs.  If she is not- I might be willing to do that for you - if you at least cover shipping & container costs (box).  Here is the information. 

1 Tube of canning lids is $24.99 it contains 28-30 dz lids - this is regular size

1 tube of wide mouth is $26.99 - and thats 24 dz lids

1 case is 6 tubes of lids

The store's name is Little Country Store.  The owner's name is Rhoda and the address is 16065 Church Rd. Dalton OH 44618 Phone Number 330-828-8411

She did say that she was told the cost on her next shipment of lids will go up (as is everything else!)

thx

wendy

I wasn't prepared!

I had left a message for our local superintentant about the need for an official assessment of my daughter's K year of homeschooling.  He returned my call personally this morning and then after answering my question asked me if he could ask me a question.  He asked why I homeschool.  I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was caught off guard and wish I'd been more officially prepared.

I said:

A. I was homeschooled when I was younger and have always wanted to homeschool.

B. For religious reasons

C. So that she can work at her own pace

D. So I can teach science from a strong creation standpoint

E.  I enjoy having them at home

I did not mention

F. Negative Social pressures

G. Liberal political social agenda's

H. Alarming trend of the decline in quality of our national education system....

I tried to be positive and not focus on the negative.  Anyway - I better go get something done.  I have gotten 3 loads of laundry done, cleaned a bathroom, loaded up the dishwasher, and a bath to our 2 yr old who got in a mess during a quick phone call for my husband involving business.  I spent time typing up a letter of completion to send to the super. while it's still fresh on my mind. Now I need to make our lunch, finish some daily chores, and get ready for our afternoon of errands and visit to my FIL in the hospital.

I was even awaked at 5:30 by my son - and it's almost 10 - you'd think I'd have more done that that!

blessings!

To cut or not to cut?? (my hair!)

I have waist length hair.  I have had trouble with it thinning out considerably over the last year.  My scalp is very flaky.  I also have trouble knowing what to do with it.  It's always in a braid, pulled back in some fashion  (bun, pony tail, etc) which I know is not healthy for my thinning problem.  But with 3 little ones - it's getting yanked on, pulled, drops in whatever I'm doing, etc. 

 I'm thinking of cutting it - back to something more managable.  It's getting to the point  where it gets ratty easily, even laying in bed - my husband will roll on it and yank it by accident :0).  So I'd like to chop it back, this has helped my hair health in the past - I have grown it waist length and chopped it back ever since I was 12!  So I get a haircut about every 3 or 4 yrs!  I like mid back length best.  I have done as short as shoulder length, but my husband and I both prefer a little longer than that. 

I called a salon and it's approx $17 to cut it.  I've only had it cut officially in a salon probably 4 times in my life.  Once, my sister cut my hair and royally botched it -it looked terrible (you'd think cutting hair straight accross wouldn't be too difficult) and I ended having to go to a salon to get it fixed, that was one time. One time was free for a makeover thing our church hosted for our stay at home mom's group.  I was the volunteer to help out the project! :0)  That was the first time I actually had a contemporary hair style and highlight!  It was fun! :0) 

Sometime I am tempted to be spirtually prideful of my long hair.  That may seem weird. But one of the first times I cut it off short in my adult life was for that very reason.  I was feeling very tempted to be prideful and thought best to help address that issue.  We live in a very conservative area (Coverings - Mennonite, & Amish and various other similar groups) - so this influence is more prevalent here than in other areas.

Anyway, any thoughts you might have on hair health?  Or to cut or not to cut? :0)

Where did the wheat go? Why the shortage?

Someone posed the question about the wheat shortage - from my various limited reading - this is what I've "heard" (read).

1. Consumption of wheat is up. China and India are consuming more wheat. People are bringing in more income, and therefore able to buy more feed and eat 2-3 meals a day instead of just one, guess what - they like it! 
2. The weak dollar makes imports more desirable - so they are consuming more of our wheat.
3. There is a drought in Australia -another major wheat producer - so they are producing less - so more is pulled from the US
4. Other countries (Middle eastern-ish) are experiencing a fungus/blight that is ruining their wheat - so more is pulled from those countries that are still yielding
5. A lady posted here on the blog that there are govt. programs in the US  that people actually receive money not to grow wheat - this was the keep the markets healthy - but now - it is hurting our markets.

Ham loaf - like it or not? what's your recipe?

I purchased a premium spiral sliced ham at our local grocer's meat sale for $1.00 something a pound.  So we had that for our Sunday dinner.  Now we have lots of leftovers to create into other fun meals!  I realize ham is not the healthiest -but it is a tasty occasional treat, and it was cheap!  :0)

Our ham loaf

Ground Ham

1 lb sausage (I use Bob Evans also purchased on sale)

Organic whole oats

Ketchup

1 egg

BBQ sauce

mustard

Then we'll create some sort of a homemade BBQ sauce for the top and bake for 1 1/2 hrs or so

Then we'll have???? with it. :0)  I'll think of something before supper in between laundry, and what not.

blessings!

wendy

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ws

Our Teeny garden is in!! What fun! :0)

It's probably about 5 ft wide and 8 or 9 feet long.  We used to have a huge garden in years past (before children) - but this is it for now.  I have a flower bed with potatoes, sunflowers, & pumpkins in it.

The little garden contains as much as I can pack in there - I hope it grows!  1 rows of potatoes, 2 rows of peas, 3 rows of Green beans, 2 rows of tomatoes, wide row of carrots, - green peppers & yellow peppers packed in where they fit, lettuce, cucumbers, radishes, onions, & celery.  We have 3 different types of tomatoes also - yellow, normal and roma types. The peas are up & the onions are growing nicely!  The potatoes are starting to poke their little green heads up! :0) 

We may also add some containers to increase our production from this little plot!  If we stay here eventually I'd like to add some raised beds on the sunny side of the house. But since we don't know what the future will hold - this will be it for now, and hope I can be here long enough to harvest it and can it! :0)

Hope you all have a blessed day today!

blessings!

wendy

FIL Update - Thanks for continued prayers!!!!!

My FIL is still in ICU - they were originally hoping he'd be out by late yesterday - but that didn't happen. His vitals are good -but he is incredibly weak.  My MIL can only see him 3 - 1/2 hr time slots during the day - (ICU restrictions) and so that makes it very hard on her.  She likes to be with him and care for him whatever he needs. 

thanks again!

blessings.

wendy

A good Tuesday?

Well, it started at 3 AM when our 2 yr old started clamoring from his crib "Milkie!  Mooooommmmm Milkeeeeeee..." From experience this can go on for hours - no matter what the method used to squelch it - so I went downstairs and got him some milk and went back to bed.  My body does not handle this well, physically if I do much during the night I wake right up and it takes my body a long time to relax again - finally at 5 I relaxed and felt sleepy again (now mind you -the 2 yr old wakes at 5:45 or 6 generally!)  I prayed for some help and God granted my request - the boy did not get up until almost 7!  yeah!  And the girls get up and go downstairs on their own.  So I started my day late!  Not much news on my FIL - I finally e-mailed my SIL only to find out she'd gotten a call this evening and forgot to e-mail us any updates (grrr). (My FIL is in ICU recovering from a very serious open heart surgery).

My parents called and asked to come over and visit, a friend stopped by and we chatted until my parents came.  Then  my parents treated us to DQ (yeah!!!! this is a true treat for us) and ice cream for the kids.  THen home to put little boy blue to bed for his nap.  I am currently studying Genesis in my Bible study and have thoroughly been enjoying it.  I enjoy the Matthew Henry commentaries!  The man is so insightful!  THen later I read to the children, they took turns reading aloud to me. They watch some TV, and I did laundry, made supper and read some blogs.  DH comes in the door carrying a big fruit basket - the kids were so excited! One of his previous employees stopped by out of the blue (didn't even know we were closing) and just for fun dropped this off for us and 2 gospel quartet CD's!  What a blessing!!!  the kids couldn't keep their hands off the fruit!

Later after supper DH took the kids outside while I cleaned up, swept and cleaned the floor.  I headed outside and we played with the kids until bedtime, then off to bed.  Then I got to sit down and read my new TOS magazine!! That's such a great magazine!!!! 

Anyway -overall - a good day!! ;0)

blessings!

wendy

Confession: My child wears patched jeans...

So what is your favorite method of patching.  I am a novice in this area.  This is the first year my daughter consistently ripped out the jeans of all of her jeans.  So off to the cloth/sewing section I go and I bring home iron on patches.  I don't know of any other way.....

I buy our jeans 2nd hand - is there a way to reinforce the jeans?

We do homeschool - so she thankfully will not be subjecting to the jeering of her peers - she currently knows no other way - and proudly brags when we purchase something "new" from Goodwill! :0)

blessings

What exactly is simplicity?

I find it interesting (and I mean that genuinely) that I see different blogs listed as being in search of simplicity.  Sometime I see posts of beautiful decorating that they've done in there home, decorative items they've purchased at 2nd hand places etc.  I will admit - I tend to be slightly jealous of those that have  an eye for such things. But the practical side of me - has trouble justifying the purchase of something that I put out only a few times a year and then I have to store it, and remember where it is and that I even have it! :0)  I generally use items that have been given to me and hang them on my wall.  Not much sits around decoratively at our home - it's fairly basic and simple.  Lately I've hosted some events and a couple of the ladies commented on the cleanliness of my home. :0) It is far from what i would call very cleanly. :0) I keep our floors mostly clean - and toys picked up  but you will find stacks.  Part of me wondered if it was due to the lack of decorative "clutter" (as my husband likes to call such things) - it gave it a simple cleaner look?  My SIL is the master of this!  Her home has zero clutter and next to none on decorations - and it generally has a very clean appearance.  She doesn't seem to struggle with "organizational" issues as I often see and read eons about - how to organize all this clutter we drag home - in the name of simplicity!

What does simplicity mean to me? I've sought to think about it as I'd like to simplify here.  To me- paring back - even what we do have - to something more reasonable.  Trying to cut wardrobes back to basic assortment (even if they are 2nd hand or hand me down), trying to cut back toys and play things - so that they will play more with the few things they have (think of those in other countries or our own historical past that had little to play with and the happy times we read about in LIttle House books).  There are some exceptions - I will place on this goal.  I do enjoy having a popcorn popper (although we've done our son the stove lately) and I do like having an electric mill for my wheat... some ofthose things (pressure canner, etc.) I will choose to keep because it helps simplify our life in the sense of making more food from scratch for ourselves.

How would you classify simplicity and your own goals towards it?

Simple recipe -tasty supper

Amounts are to your own liking.

Start a pot of rice (I'm sure you know the routine?)

1 cup white jasmine

1 cup brown jasmine

4 cups water

chopped onions

1 tsp salt

coconut oil (1 TB or so)

simmer the above.  I added cilantro at the end

1 chicken breast ( I get for about $.50/each)

chop and saute with onions and green peppers

Add mixed veggies or stir fry blend

add salt, ginger, garlic salt, water, sprinkle on some corn starch - add some OJ and simmer until thickens.  Serve over rice.  Healthy, easy, and tasty!

Thanks for prayers -update on FIL surgery

FIL update - Prayer request

My FIL is in open heart surgery as I type.  7-8 hr surgery expected.  He's in weak and critical condition. He's been in ICU since last Friday and his liver was starting to fail.  His numbers were getting better on Sat and worse yesterday - although  not as bad as last week.  My MIL is there and all her children are with her during this time.    She knows he is ready to go - if he is to be called home, but she would like him to be around a while yet.  If you read this - if you'd say a quick prayer for my FIL Fred and family. Thanks!

ws

What is your weekly routine? Would you comment or post?

I'm wondering - I need to tweak my weekly cleaning routine/schedule.  We are a homeschooling family with 3 (one 2 yr old who makes life interesting) and I also have a part time job doing my husband's accounting - which will soon be ending when the business sells.  I  am a homemaker - small gardener and can a good amount in fall.  What is your weekly cleaning routine that you use to manage your home by? Do you have a home management binder? I purchased one and it's so overwhelming - I need something simpler!!   I tried fly lady -but she inundated my box with e-mails - I don't have time for that!!  My biggest issue is organization of toys/kids stuff/school/etc and helping them learn to keep their things picked up when they are not using them, and organized in a decent manner (and myself also!)  Thanks!

Currently I try to vacuum 1-2 X per week, clean the bathrooms 1 X per week - do laundry as needed, sheets and towels changed 1 X weekly and washed (usually on Friday) and baking (bread, breakfast foods, etc) when needed.  I seem to feel like I just get caught up, I blink and I"m somehow behind!  I get one area done and then move to the next - only to have the one disheveled in no time, it seems.  I will admit all my family are messies by nature.  My husband is too. He came from ahome where his mother would go clean up his room for him (even when he was 19 yrs old) - he tries hard - but he works a lot of hours and it's not his normal way.  I am also naturally this way -but am working on it - but I"m to the point that if it's messy -I get really frustrated - so how do I find the happy balance of having a lived in home, teaching others in the family to pick up after themselves, and still not live a Martha type life to do it! :0)

thanks!

wendy

Ramblings while husband's on way to ER with FIL

I usually try to think some before I post and don't normally just post ramblings since I am still a beginner blogger and still a little gun shy about it all.  I was at the homeschool mom's group tonight, Hubby calls cell phone (not good - we don't normally do this)- no coverage (we have pay per use things) then calls home number of where we are - "Can you please come home quick?"  is all he says.  I head home - hoping that we won't be heading to ER with one of the children, they all happily greet me (the kids, that is) Hubby takes me out and says his mom called him in tears asking him to come over immediately.  MY FIL is having a rough time.... a lot has happened to him Since Christmas morning when he first ended up in ER - 1 open heart surgery, colonoscopy, colon cancer surgery, now 2nd open heart surgery was scheduled for Thurs.  He has NOT been doing well at all - and MIL has begged him numerous times to head to ER and he refuses.  So they are headed to ER hubby told me - at the big hospital - they are by passing the local - so it must be pretty serious.  I feel for them. They've had 4 rough months!  He is self employed - has not been able to work, and one setback after another!   

Anyway - as for us - we are about to wrap up our first "official" year of homeschooling.  DD has done well!   4 yr old is also reading well, from what she's picked up from 6 yr olds school, so I'm thankful.  We have cocoons hanging in their little paradise waiting to come out!  A bunny was building a nest in our back patio.  If it were only for science -I'd let her be - it'd be great for the kids to get to observe the whole process, but it's too close to my garden, and the dear bunnies ate out of our garden last year.  I decided feeding the children took precedence over a little science observation so I chased her away and kicked in her nest (making sure no babies were yet in it first).  Our garden is teeny - so there really isn't enough for me to willingly share with her at this point!

Prices of stuff.... my goodness.  I'm a stockpiler - and I'd read about skyrocketing prices - but we'd done stock up in Nov and just this spring started heading out again and boy are prices soaring - just one month to the next in my price book -things jumping $1 per pound and not stores even consistently being less than the other - it depends on who still has an old shipment that is still lower priced!  Thankfully we are ok for wheat and hopefully in the fall they might drop some.   We mostly stockpiled again, so hopefully that will help for a while!

Well, I am tired.  Hubby probably won't be home until very late.  He is under the gun trying to get a lot of work done - he'd planned to go in early and work late tomorrow - a customer needs parts - plus we've got to get this stuff wrapped up so he can begin liquidating.  No pay was taken from the business this month, there wasn't any available for that - we were hoping we could pack some shipments in this week to help out next month - until he can find a job.... but FIL is more important!  My God will provide...

My husband has only sisters and the oldest has her activities (school, and whatnot) I will confess - she called to see if my husband could go with his dad for some of the pre-op so she wouldn't have to rearrange her schedule.  My husband is our sole breadwinner, her activities are want based, not need based - this has happened before - my husband is generally kind about it and doesn't say anthing, but I will admit - it's sometimes hard for me to swallow nicely -but we go on....  and I will try to forget....

sigh... and the economic stimulus is coming soon, Lord willing and hopefully that can finish what we need for house payment and a good start on next months bills... sigh....

God is good.  We are thankful for that.  I hope my FIL is ok.  And I hope you have a blessed evening!!

my first ramblings

If We Only Understood - a true vintage article

This is truly a must read - if you are willing - I really appreciated it and should read it monthly myself!!

Mrs. Brown was queer.  The neighbors all thought so and, what was worse, they said so.

Mrs. Fuller happened in several times, quite early int he morning, and although the work was not done up, Mrs. Brown was sitting leisurely in her room or else she would be writing at her desk.  Then Mrs. Powers went through the house one afternoon, and the dishes were stacked back unwashed, the bed still airing, and everything "at sixes and sevens," except the room where Mrs. Brown seemed to be idling away her time.  Mrs. Powers said Mrs. Brown was "just plain lazy" and she didn't care who heard her say it!

Ida Brown added interesting information when she told her schoolmates, after school, that she must hurry home and do up the work.  It was a shame the neighbors said, that Mrs. Brown should idle away her time all day and leave the work for Ida to do after school.

Later, it was learned that Mrs. Brown had been writing for the papers to earn money to buy Ida's new winter outfit.  Ida had been glad to help by doing the work after school so that her mother might have the day for study and writing, but they had not thought it was necessary to explain to the neighbors. 

I read a little verse a few years ago entitled, "If We Only Understood," and the refrain was,

We would love each other better, if we only understood...

I have forgotten the author and last verse, but the refrain has remained in my memory and comes to my mind every now and then when I hear unkind remarks made about people.

The things that people do would look so differrent to us if we only understood the reasons for their ctions, nor would we blame them so much for their faults if we knew all the circumstances of their lives.  Even their sins might not look so hideous if we could feel what pressure and perhaps suffering had caused them.

The safest course is to be as understanding as possible, and where our understanding fails, to call charity to its aid.  Learn to distinguish between persons and the things they do, and while we may not always approve of their actions, have sympathy and feeling of kindness for the persons themselves.

It may even be that what we consider faults and weaknesses in others are only prejudisces on our own part.  Some of us would like to see everybody fitted to our own pattern, and what a tiresome world this would be if that were done. We should be willing to allow others the freedom we demand for ourselves.  Everyone has the right to self-expression.

If we keep this genial attitude toward the world and the people in it, we will keep our own minds and feelings healthy and clean.  Even the vigilance necessary to guard our thoughts in this way will bring us rewards in better disciplined minds and happier dispositions.

Written by Laura Ingalls Wilder December 1917

Some things I have experienced/done

I have adapted this a little from another's blog list:

1. Walked through the amazon jungle

2. Rode across a rickety barge - in a car on the barge - pushed across by a man with a pole

3. riden in a 4 seater airplane and landed in a cow pasture

4. Eaten Cow tongue

5. Had a monkey for a pet

6. Saw a water funnel - while out in a boat! :0)

7. Watched the sun set over the Pacific

8. Seen the atlantic

9. swam in the carribean

10. Climbed over 300 stairs to see out from an old church in Germany

11. Seen snow laden on trees in the Black Forest

12 Riden in a hand made wooden canoe

13. Eaten papaya from a tree you grew

14. Observed fruit eating bats

15. Raised in 3rd world country

16. Drank Koolaid with sticks floating in it - made with unsafe water (and not gotten sick!) :0)  Our bodies were accustomed to the bacteria.

From the normal list (all listed below - highlighted & unhighlighted)

08. Said “I love you’ and meant it
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game (and survived the crush afterwards)

17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables

19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper

22. Watched a meteor shower

25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment


30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can

33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster

36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking

38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment


42. Had amazing friends
47. Taken a road-trip
56. Alphabetized your CDs
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
67. Started a business
72. Gotten married

73. Been in a movie (I almost was - we accidentally walked onto the set of a movie while a seen was being filmed in the city I attended college!)

77. Made cookies from scratch
83. Got flowers for no reason
90. Bought a house
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
110. Broken someone’s heart
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
120. Had a snake as a pet
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours (when we returned from Germany and were suffering jet lag - my dad was ready to take us to the dr out of concern)
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
137. Skipped all your school reunions

book, soap, & goodies give away

In honor of her 100th blog - sign up for your chance to win  a small assortment of gifts!

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Simple Woman's Day book

I'll give this a try - this is new for me...