Old Lotion

Em had an itchy bug bite tonight so she got out the calamine lotion to soothe the irritation.  She burst out laughing as she saw the date on the bottle..... 1993!!!!!  I guess we don't use much calamine lotion!  It made me think about the time that I helped my mom clean out her medicine cabinet and I gave her a hard time about the expired stuff in there.  I do watch expiration dates on oral medicines very closely, but I obviously need to do a better job with the other stuff!  So, Mom,  I apologize  for teasing you about the stuff in your medicine cabinet, and you can say "Like mother, like daughter"! 

Beautiful Morning

A storm blew through last night, making me get up and stumble around closing windows.  The power even went out for a while following a very close blast of lightening.  When I got up this morning and stepped outside, it smelled so sweet and clean, I could almost taste the air!  We have been socked in with smoke from several wildfires for the past few weeks, and it was so refreshing to see the  sky so clean and blue, and the rain had washed all the dust and ash away.  I wish that smell could somehow be preserved and used as a pick-me-up when I need to feel refreshed and energized!

Day of rest?

I really enjoy Sundays because they are different from the other days of the week.  I like going to church and learning about the gospel.  I enjoy seeing friends and checking in with how they are doing.  I like having home teachers come to visit us and share a message about Christ. I appreciate this day set aside to focus on my Savior and to learn and try to become a better person.  Sundays are a peaceful, pleasant time, but a day of rest they are not.  I usually get up early for meetings of one type or another, make phone calls, visit people in my ward, work on visiting teaching routes, study lessons, make assignments for the upcoming week, go to church, sometimes have guests for dinner, and try to help my family with their assignments, goals, and projects.  I am very grateful for the Sabbath Day, and I truly love it, but I don't usually feel very "rested" at the end of the day!

Chicken Run

I spent the last few days building an expansion on to my chicken coop.  I built it in the garage, then had Jacob and Erik help me carry it out to the garden.  The girls seem to be happy with their room to stretch and scratch.  I am tired and glad to have that project off my list.  I have 2 weeks before starting school again, and a lot I want to get done in that time!

Beans and Apples

The kids first day back to school went well.  I was going to take a picture of them this morning and then I forgot.  It is good to get back into a schedule, but I miss having my kids home.  Tonight Em helped me to get a batch of green beans canned.  Over the past few days she has also helped me with dehydrating some apples.  She is working on a 10-hour project for a church activity, and she chose to do it on learning about food preservation.  I am going to teach her how to make jam next, then it will be time to harvest and freeze the corn and can tomatoes.  I also have lots of herbs in the garden to cut and dry.  I am enjoying teaching her and having her help with some of these jobs!

Last Day of Summer Break

Today was the last day of my kids' summer vacation.  It's back to school tomorrow!  This year Emily is in the Junior High school, starting 7th grade.  Erik is a senior!  Yikes!  Jacob is taking classes at BYU-I starting on Sept. 22nd.  Wow... they have grown up!  To celebrate the last day of vacation, I did not make the kids do any chores... it was a lazy day.  For lunch we got a pizza and some snow cones and met Tony up on campus for a picnic in the gardens.  My new favorite treat is a snow cone from Snoasis.... the texture of their shaved ice is so deliciously melty and softly crunchy!  I think I have had  5 or 6 snow cones this summer! 

Zuchinni

Ode to zuchinni.
Summer squash so green and long
growing in my garden,
So prolific, so oblong,
we must ask your pardon!
You are the butt of many jokes
abandoned at neighbors' houses.
I even know some local blokes
who feed you to their cowses!
Yet, given a chance, you are delicious
fried or baked or grated ...
versatile in many dishes;
some I've liked, some I've hated!
So here's to you my abundant friend
and all your tasty uses
I'm looking forward to the end,
because I'm running out of uses!!