Purge!

'Tis the season to purge the kid's closets.  And, then go around trying to find clothes to replace some of the outgrown ones.  Thankfully, grandparents will  gift some clothes for Christmas.  And, thankfully my kids do not have crazy notions about being stylish, a perk of home education.

These overflowing bags will go to friends.  The one big bag will go to Goodwill.  Oh how I love to purge!

First World Problems

My week has been plagued by first world problems, you know, the kind that are annoying, but only exist because I am blessed to have a home in the first place.  Our old copper pipes, water pressure tank, and whole house water filter needed replaced.  Now there are gaping holes in three rooms that need fixed.  All these "problems" made me think about how thankful I am to have running water, a landlord with money to fix them, and skilled men to fix them.  I know that these are problems that other human beings would love to have.  Not every person has clean running water in their home.  Living here in excess skews my sense of having problems, big time.

Last night, as we made our way through a mega warehouse store, I found myself reminded of this again when they were out of a couple things that I thought I "needed!"  How many times a day do I think I need something?  Need is such an overused word!

This month, I've been writing down each day something that I am thankful for on my Facebook page.  It's been a great experience.  Each morning, I ask myself,"What am I most thankful for today?"  It's a great way to start my day!

Contentment is...

Contentment not a

fulfillment of what you want,

but the realization of what you

already have.

It is not a destination,

it is a state of gratefulness

before God.

~Joshua Harris

An Under Buyer's Tale

Recently, I've made a few purchases that have greatly increased the joy in my world.  I tend to be an "under buyer", which is a term I first heard from Gretchen Rubin.  It means that I don't like to shop and I put off making purchases long past the point of their necessity.  

For example, I currently own only two pairs of jeans and both when buttoned, I can pull off (Yay for me!) They are too big.  They are not even comfortable to wear.  I even have birthday money to spend on new ones, yet, I have put off the task for a couple weeks.  Thankfully, today I received an email about an online sale at a store I like and so I hope to order a couple replacements, TODAY!  

I also was in need of a spoon rest, never finding a used one that I liked, so for the last two years, I've used the plastic lid that came from some packaging.  It washed up fine in the dish washer.  I was happy. But, then I saw "the one" at Good Will this weekend!  And it ended up being free because I had enough points from donating to make it free.  Wow, was I happy!  And now I have just the right spoon rest that matches my kitchen decor.

Another example is my cake pans.  I received two fine (or so I thought) cake pans for our wedding 18 years ago.  Each time I make a cake in these pans, they would stick.  Even if i greased them, floured them, and put in parchment paper.  For years, these pans have irritated me.  But, because they were "good" pans, I just put up with them.  And for years I didn't make cake because they were terrible pans.  Yet, I kept them?  Why?  Thankfully, I decided to give them away and I bought two new pans that are wonderful!  The cakes just slid out!

I also recently bought a butter dish.  For years, we've just kept the butter in its paper wrapper and set that on the table.  It got to be a pain.  So, I decided to get a butter dish, but not just any dish.  I wanted a retro one.  And it didn't take months of looking. I found the perfect one in one weekend of antiquing.  And I got it for a little less than an online shop that I thought I'd end up getting one from.   

These little things have shown me that sometimes I have to break down and be a consumer, not always buying new things, but certainly replacing items that are no longer useful with ones that are.

This Saturday is a big tag sale at a church nearby.  I plan to be there.  I am looking for a pan to make pancakes on.  Our current pans do not work.  In fact, since we got the new smooth surface stove, our skillet doesn't work.  It's bottom is not flat enough to make contact with the burner.  *sigh*   It is making it harder to cook things, taking a lot longer.  I am going to have to think about getting a new skillet, too.  Unfortunately, the skillet is not that old.  I could chose to put up with it for a couple years, or just go get one that will work and save myself a lot of grief in the end.   

What about you?  Do you put off buying things? 

Random Fall Thoughts

The last ones! 

Surprise!  Most of the tomatoes have turned red sitting in the sunny southern window.  My dear husband says they are flavorful, too.  Oh, I didn't mention that he is the only tomato lover in the house?  Well, he is. I labor over the tomatoes as an act of love towards him, really.  Plus, I enjoy the challenge. 

The leaves have all of a sudden changed colors and just as quickly, fallen to the ground.  I am going to miss them.  I wish fall was a longer season, spring, too.  It seems like fall and spring are shorter each year.  Perhaps because I enjoy them so much.

A fall display I saw over the weekend. 

The "men" folk worked hard on the leaves last evening after dinner.  You would not know it by looking at the yard this morning after some rain and wind passed through.  But, they are almost all on the ground now.  Last year, I remember we were dealing with leaves well into November.  We finally stopped when it snowed!  This year is quite different.  Most likely due to the drought.  I read we are still 8 inches under normal for the entire year. 

The mill where our corn was ground. 

We added 5 pounds of corn meal, freshly stone ground, to our "larder" for the winter.  I look forward to baking muffins and corncakes.  I hope it lasts awhile.  I have to be careful not to bake too often, as our self control gets tested when I do bake!  And I do love to bake this time of the year. 

Must get to the children's lessons for the day.  Have a wonderful Tuesday! 
Jenn

Wordless Wednesday: Garden Still Hangs On

Credit goes to my daughter who took most of these photos for me this morning...  

This and That, Fall Edition

Quaint shops to tempt us. 

Good Day to You, Gentle Reader,

How is your fall progressing?  Twice now, we've had to cover our delicate plants.  I realize it is just putting off the inevitable, but for right now, with the bright, sunny, warm-enough days, I am attempting to prolong the growing season. 

I heart old barns. 

Just today we enjoyed a red cabbage and some cherry tomatoes in our salad.  The tomato plants are in fact, so full of green tomatoes, that I am soon planning to pick them all and attempt to ripen them in a sunny window. 

Beautiful lake we found while on a stroll. 

Fall camping is another pleasure that we are hoping to extend, although, this past weekend's trip was canceled.  We are not rugged enough to sleep in our pop up camper in temperatures in the 30's without a heater!  We have one more trip planned for my birthday in eleven days.  I am eagerly watching the low temperatures.  We can go if they stay in the 40's. 

A house that I love. 

Speaking of eleven, we purchased eleven jars of apple butter from our favorite orchard this weekend.  Their apples were destroyed by frost this past spring. Thankfully, the apples they used to make the butter were from last year's harvest.  We bought their last jars.  If I had known, I would have gone earlier.  Next year, they will have a call list, the nice lady informed us.  We'll need to get on that list! 



*Pictures are from some day trips taken this past weekend. 

Quote from John Wesley

Of late,we have had the pleasure to read a lovely little book entitled, A Heart Strangely Warmed, by Louise A. Vernon.  In this book, a young boy encounters John Wesley and is quite impressed by the man's preaching, although, it takes awhile for the boy to understand all that is meant by conversion. 

I found a quote from John Wesley in the book that I want to ponder... 

"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can." 

That about sums things up, I'd say!