Harvesting Blackberries!

Our blackberry bushes are producing enough blackberries this year to be worth it all! This is our fourth year of investment – the first year, everything died – the second year they survived, but produced nothing (expected) – the third year (last year) they gave us a handful of berries (also expected) – this year they have finally started really producing.

We have been out several times “pickin’ berries” this month ~ the kids love to pick berries and it goes much faster with their help.

Most of the berries we pick end up in the refrigerator to be eaten at whim, but I also made a blackberry cobbler one night with our fresh picked berries. I used my grandmother’s recipe, which I will share with you in another post. Next year I hope to have enough berries to eat, cook with, and freeze for the winter. I’m hoping to make some blackberry preserves, too – this year or next.

Blessings,
Nancy

Here a mouse, there a mouse, everywhere a mouse mouse . . .

We have recently acquired some new pets at our house. It started with Laura (doesn’t it always?), who wanted to use her money to purchase a pet mouse. Knowing that she was old enough to care for it completely on her own, we decided it would be alright. The 3 kitties in the house gave us a moment’s concern, but we figured that if something happened, it would be a good life lesson in responsibility, so off she went to the pet store with her dad to pick out a mouse.

They came home with the black and white mouse pictured above, who eventually was named “Panda” – a suitable name, I thought. Well, as should have been expected (I’m not sure why I didn’t), she was such a hit with the other kids that the inevitable question came up pretty quickly – “Can I get a mouse, too?” – spoken by Tommy and Sarah. Tommy had been wanting a hamster for a while, and Sarah just loves to mother anything she can. Jeff and I deliberated and finally decided to allow them to purchase the “rodents” with their own money, and with the understanding that they had full responsibility for the care of said rodents.

Off to the pet store once again. This time, we came home with a brown and white mouse (pictured above) for Sarah, which she named “Rain” after a horse in the movie “Spirit”; and a hamster for Tommy, who has been named “Cubbie”. The hamster is a Winter White hamster, which will supposedly turn white in the winter. Right now it is a grayish brown color with a stripe down it’s back -

Each of the mice is in a separate cage, and they travel around the house with their owners all day long – several times they have even traveled out and about in the car with us, too. So far they are all bonding nicely with their owners and we have only had one near tragedy when Edward (kitty) almost caught Panda while her cage was being cleaned – check off one lesson learned. We also had a situation with Cubbie, who decided to chew a hole in her water bottle, flooding her cage and requiring a new bottle asap. We’re hoping she won’t sabotage herself with this one.

We took this picture (and the one above) one day when Panda and Rain were visiting together in Laura’s cage – they get along fine and shared a run together in the wheel -

Cubbie loves to dig and hide under her bedding and is really fun to watch -

The humans aren’t the only ones having fun watching the new additions. All three cats (even the elderly Missy) have been spending much of their days (and nights) keenly watching the antics in the mousey cages. This is a common sight -

We only allow this when we are sitting close by keeping an eye on the situation. If they can’t be watched, they have to be kept safely up on a high shelf in their rooms.

Now, of course, I have been hearing Anna asking “Can I get a mouse?” I’m not willing to allow that yet – she’s only 6 and I’m sure that it would end up being Mom’s responsibility, not her’s, and I’m not in the market for more jobs at the moment. She will have to enjoy the three that are here now.

We’ve had a nice cloudy day here, with a little bit of rain. It’s nice, since we haven’t had much rain so far this summer. Hopefully, the clouds will keep the temperatures down a little, too!

Have a wonderful evening!

Blessings,
Nancy

The Simple Woman’s Daybook ~ June 28

Here is my Daybook entry for today ~

Outside my window. . .cloudy, dark, and drizzly – night is coming on and the rain is very welcome!
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I am thinking. . .that I have been neglecting the Nature Blog on the sidebar for too long now and need to update it.
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From the learning room. . .summer vacation!
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I am thankful for. . .my Mom, brothers and sister – and for the special good times we have when we’re together.
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From the kitchen. . .Chef’s Salads and Blueberry Muffins.
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I am wearing. . .white t-shirt and denim capris.
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I am creating. . .a new daily planning journal with magazine pictures, stamps and scrapbook supplies . . . more on this later.
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I am going. . .to be participating in a new Block of the Month quilt program that I’m really excited about – I will receive a package of fabric in the mail each month to make blocks for a Hobo Quilt called “Mulligan Stew” that is made up of the secret language symbols used by hobos in the Depression years – a wonderful historical quilt.
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I am reading. . .blogs and websites that I missed while my computer was down.
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I am hoping. . .that the weather will be nice for the Fourth.
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I am hearing. . .children talking, fan running, dryer calling me to unload and fold clothes.
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Around the house. . .three new pets have been added to the house – 2 mice and 1 hamster; 3 cats are having fun watching the new additions; David is working on learning how to change his own clothes and proudly changes shirts numerous times each day.
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One of my favorite things. . .creating pretty pages in my new journal.
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A few plans for the rest of the week. . .cleaning, sewing, monthly Keepers meeting (Volleyball this month!), an evening at the ballpark, a trip to the movies to see Toy Story 3, and lots of swimming and barbecuing with family in celebration of the Fourth of July – oh, and I almost forgot – FIREWORKS!
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Here is a picture thought I am sharing. . .

Fresh raw vegies cut up for dinner.

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Thanks to Peggy at The Simple Woman’s Daybook for this wonderful meme. Visit Peggy to find the June list of participants in The Simple Woman’s Daybook.

Have a lovely day!

Blessings,
Nancy

Annie is back up and running . . .

I’ve been having a little vacation from my computer – involuntarily. The power cord that had been taped and repaired a couple of times finally decided it had had enough and went on permanent strike the week before last, when it started ominously chirping at me and my battery charge started to plunge. I put it to rest and then severely limited my computer time to checking the mail and then getting right off, so as to use as little of the remaining battery power I had left – blogging would have used it up in one sitting – I am notorious around here for sitting and staring blankly at my screen when I write anything – searching for just the right words and thinking through everything I write (which is a bit frustrating at times!).

Jeff jumped into action when he got word of my dilema – searching the internet and finding a replacement cord for me and getting it ordered asap. Then the waiting began.

Annie’s battery only lasted a few days, even with my short journey’s online, and I was left to . . . (gasp) . . . venture onto the kids’ pc . . . (gasp) . . . the one where you are never too sure what is smeared on the desk, the one with the keyboard that has several keys stuck together due to someone spilling “something” on it at some point, the one that periodically turns itself off from time to time with no notice – despite having just recently been reformatted – of course, I don’t blame it – if I was treated the way they treat it I’d shut down regularly myself – in fact . . . I do.

Anyway, I kept my ventures onto the alien computer short for all of the reasons mentioned above, again just checking e-mail and the bank account briefly each day. Every day I eagerly anticipated the mail thinking that maybe today would be the day that my power cord would arrive and allow me back on my beloved Annie, but I wasn’t rewarded until late last week, when it finally showed up in my mailbox. Life has been so busy through the weekend, that I am just now finally finding time to sit down and write about it.

It is wonderful having Annie back up and running, and having a nice healthy cord attached that doesn’t make strange noises at me and is reliable as long as the power doesn’t go out.

I’ll be back later with my Daybook post.

I hope you’re all having a wonderful summer!

Blessings,
Nancy

The Simple Woman’s Daybook ~ June 14

Happy Flag Day! Here is my Daybook entry for today ~

Outside my window. . .sunshine and clouds – a chance of showers this afternoon. The mama barn swallow is sitting on the nest again.
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I am thinking. . .that I need to check on the progress of the nest on the front porch – it’s been too hot to sit out there, so I don’t know whether the eggs have hatched yet.
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From the learning room. . .summer vacation!
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I am thankful for. . .Jeff weeding my patio garden yesterday – it looks so much better.
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From the kitchen. . .Barbecue Chicken, corn, green beans, and homemade Blackberry Cobbler for dessert.
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I am wearing. . .white t-shirt and denim capris.
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I am creating. . .finishing up the dark checkerboard blocks for the Star Medallion quilt, working on block #4 for the Thangles quilt, and getting Sarah started on a Scrappy Squares quilt that she is making.
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I am going. . .to run by the quilt store sometime this week and see the new retro kitchen fabrics that just came in.
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I am reading. . .“Easy Homeschooling Companion” by Lorraine Curry.
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I am hoping. . .to get more blogging done – the summer vacation state of mind seems to have affected my blogging lately.
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I am hearing. . .Anna humming, children talking, someone running up the stairs, and the air conditioner running.
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Around the house. . .a few children with the sniffles, the littles’ room is freshly cleaned up (for now!), Jeff has the new ceiling fan in our bedroom up and running and has repaired the blown circuit of outlets in the kitchen (half of the kitchen!), blackberries are coming in full force and we will be picking a basket for our first cobbler tonight.
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One of my favorite things. . .“Blueberry Scone” Yankee jar candle on my kitchen island for the summer.
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A few plans for the rest of the week. . .sewing, decluttering, swimming, ice skating, Ladies Bible Study, Stamp Club meeting.
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Here is a picture thought I am sharing. . .

David taking a break from the pool.

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Thanks to Peggy at The Simple Woman’s Daybook for this wonderful meme. Visit Peggy to find the June Daybook participants, and have a lovely day!

Blessings,
Nancy

A good summer dinner idea . . .

Chop up a variety of vegetables, shred some cheese, cube some deli meat, and fill a bowl with lettuce. Now set out your salad dressings, croutons and whatever else may suit your fancy. You might even whip up some blueberry muffins to go alongside ~

Build-your-own Chef’s Salads ~ nice and cool for a summer meal ~.

Have a nice day!

Blessings,
Nancy

The Simple Woman’s Daybook ~ June 7

Here is my Daybook entry for today ~

Outside my window. . .sunny and hot – summertime weather. Lots of color from the flowering trees and the potted plants on the porch. The barn swallows are fixing up the nest for a second round of eggs.
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I am thinking. . .that I really could use 48 hours in a day!
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From the learning room. . .summer fun!
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I am thankful for. . .air conditioning – it’s really starting to heat up around here.
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From the kitchen. . .no need to cook tonight – we will be celebrating our oldest son’s 25th birthday with dinner out.
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I am wearing. . .white shirt and denim capris.
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I am creating. . .more peace of mind by decluttering my home.
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I am going. . .to go next-door to meet the new neighbors that moved in yesterday.
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I am reading. . .the book of Matthew in my Bible.
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I am hoping. . .for a little rain for my garden in the near future.
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I am hearing. . .Blues Clues dvd, Sarah talking to me, fan running.
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Around the house. . .lots of cleaning out projects waiting for me to find the time.
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One of my favorite things. . .putting pretty stickers in my calendar each week.
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A few plans for the rest of the week. . .library with the kids, ice skating, voice lesson (Laura), sewing, cleaning out, and maybe bowling next weekend.
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Here is a picture thought I am sharing. . .

Freshly baked bread right out of the oven.
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Thanks to Peggy at The Simple Woman’s Daybook for this wonderful meme. Visit Peggy starting Tuesday to find the list of participants in this week’s Daybook.

Have a lovely day!

Blessings,
Nancy

Of Hives and Honey

Yesterday we visited a beekeeper’s honey extracting facility. A young man from our church has his own honey business, and he explained the entire process to us. He has been beekeeping for a number of years and transports his bees all over Texas to extend the “honey” season. He explained a little bit about how the hive operates and showed us some live bees in the process of making honey and tending the hive .

There were stacks of trays like these filled with honeycomb and honey waiting to be extracted -

The trays were placed in a machine which opened up the comb so that the honey was exposed. Then the trays were moved to large cylinder which spun them around releasing the honey to drain into a pipe which took it to another machine where the comb was separated from the honey. The pure honey was then moved to another vat from which it was poured into a bottle ready to be sold. We were all allowed to dip our fingers into the raw honeycomb and taste the delicious natural honey -

It was a fascinating field trip, and I’m sure I will be remembering it for awhile – every time I mix some honey into my bread dough and every morning when I squeeze some of that sweet honey onto my toast.

And yes, dear sister, you will be receiving a bottle – complete with comb – the next time I see you

Have a nice day!

Blessings,
Nancy

The Simple Woman’s Daybook ~ June 1

Welcome to June! Here is my Daybook entry for today ~

Outside my window. . .sunny, breezy, and warm. The Crepe Myrtles and Rose of Sharons are blooming – a sure sign that summer is making it’s entrance.
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I am thinking. . .about menu plans for the week.
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From the learning room. . .we will be visiting a bee farm this week to learn about bees and honey. We will be able to watch the honey being extracted from the hives and see how they handle the bees (Anna is a little nervous about this!)
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I am thankful for. . .my son, Ryan, who celebrated his 22nd birthday yesterday – he is and always has been such a blessing to me.
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From the kitchen. . .no idea about this one yet!
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I am wearing. . .red t-shirt and denim capris.
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I am creating. . .quilting whenever I can!
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I am going. . .to have to find the time to weed my patio garden this week.
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I am reading. . .“The Excellent Wife” by Martha Peace
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I am hoping. . .that my fuzzy brain clears up soon – so I can get some work done!
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I am hearing. . .children talking, music playing in the living room.
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Around the house. . .tired people after a busy weekend, wet swimming suits and towels, leftover cheeseburgers and hot dogs, and a bowl of fresh picked blackberries (quickly disappearing).
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One of my favorite things. . .relaxing in the pool at the end of a hot day.
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A few plans for the rest of the week. . .library, skating, bee field trip for Keepers Club, ladies Bible study, decluttering, swimming, sewing, and celebrating our 27th wedding anniversary.
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Here is a picture thought I am sharing. . .

A new bucket of sidewalk chalk for summer fun.

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Thanks to Peggy at The Simple Woman’s Daybook for this wonderful meme. Visit Peggy starting Tuesday to find the list of participants in this week’s Daybook.

Have a lovely day!

Blessings,
Nancy