Feeling Out of Whack.....

Summer is a double edge sword. I enjoy the lack of routine, yet the lack of routine also drives me insane at times. :)

We had a death in the family, so have been busy and have had a lot of family in town. Rest in peace GG Pop. We will miss you! We have also had some other family members in town who stayed with us. Always fun, yet chaotic!

Garden is growing, most things are doing wonderful, but the tomatoes look terrible. We had a ton of rain and I don't think they liked having their feet wet for so long. Maybe they will snap out of it. I have picked a few yummy cherry tomatoes. And have eaten a few sugar snap peas off the vine. Oh yum! :)

I dug some red potatoes for dinner last night and they were so delicious!

I am about to pick our first Zuchinnis. I have also been hand picking and squishing squash bugs and searching the leaves for their eggs and smashing them too. Other than that, no major garden bugs yet.

The ducks are doing wonderfully. We need to get their nest boxes built sometime in the next month.

I have been knitting. I made a trip to a Hobby Lobby and drooled all over the yarn isle. I bought yarn for gifts I am making for Christmas. I got one of the newborn hats done for my sister's twins-to-be and have started on a pair of matching booties. It kind of amazes me that I have acquired the needle and yarn stash that I have already! And I have so many projects going on at once. I am a "bouncer" though...I work best when I have a lot of irons in the fire instead of just doing one thing to completion and starting another.

I have been working on some organizing and cleaning out and getting rid of stuff. Where does all of this stuff come from? I think the Stuff Fairy must sneak in at night. I am filling up the back of the van to make a trip to the Goodwill for a drop off.

We are all healthy and happy and life is good. How are you and yours?

A Heartbreaking Tragedy....

An 11 year old boy in our community was killed in a very tragic accident yesterday. I wasn't fortunate enough to know this boy well, but my son played with him at recess and my daughter is good friends with his older sister. Both of my children are still in disbelief that he is gone, that this could happen to such a great kid, to someone so young.

My heart aches for his family and I am compelled to hug my own kids a little tighter and thank God for them and for the time we have together. It is so easy for me to get caught up in day to day life and forget to be thankful.

Please keep this boy's family in your prayers as they face the difficult days ahead.

Another young boy was injured in this accident. Please keep him and his family in your prayers too.

And give your loved ones an extra hug tonight.

Who Wants To Talk About Christmas?

Me either, but I have this Dave Ramsey saying stuck in my head...Christmas is a Craft. That is, until you are out of debt anyhow. We are close, but not quite, and some things have come up in life that are postponing our debt free scream. If you listen to Dave on AM radio then that will make sense. If not, go listen and then it will make sense. Due to the delay I have the urge to scream other not so nice things. However, I will refrain and instead will focus on things that move us toward our goal.

(This is not my house...it is last Christmas Eve at hubby's moms)


The whole Christmas is a Craft thing brings up a few thoughts. Do people think you are cheap for making instead of buying? Or do they realize the value in a homemade/handmade gift? I certainly see the value, so I guess while this worries me a bit, it wouldn't stop me because it is something I would like to get. And what if they hate what I have made? Ok, I don't plan to make any of my nephews pink bunny suits. I do know I would do my best to make things they would use and enjoy and to make them of good quality. Actually, I have had an easier time coming up with a list of ideas to make for my loved ones than I ever have when thinking of what to buy them and the store! And odd things come up that would make good gifts...did you know my 12 year old son was surfing my Ravelry account and wants me to knit him a stuffed Yoda? Who ever would have guessed THAT one? :) And there are several things that one just cannot go wrong with. Like food gifts! :)

(Kids had fun building it and we all had fun eating it!)

So why am I talking about this when it is barely June? Because I am sure that handmade/homemade means more planning and time for creating. To do it this way is going to be a bit more involved than a last minute dash to the stores two days before Christmas! And I could really use some good frugal ideas! I have started a list over on the right of some ideas I have had so far. I would love to hear about handmade/homemade gifts you have given or received and what you do for Christmas of gift giving in general!