My Week

Just waking up

Caught Memaw taking pictures

The new marigolds the grands picked out one of each kind

My Orchids from last mother's day

My grands know me so well they picked these out for me

Our little spice garden rosemary, oregano, stevia, chocolate mint, and lavender.

Beef steak tomatoes just for my hard working husband. 

Snow peas and our home grown Florida avocado 

Forgot the name but was so pretty

More orchids from last years mother's day that are blooming

Pumpkin doesn't care the size of vehicle as long as he can lay on it 

He found a cool quiet place away from the kids, he thought. That is their mess, LOL.

Just a peek into my crazy blessed life

The Simple Woman's Daybook

     

 

   For Today May 2, 2022

 

Looking out my window... Been outside already so beautiful can feel the warmth of the sun building. Everything is so green and alive, this is my favorite time of year.

I am thinking...about my children with changes coming up, emptier nest coming very soon (not totally empty just closer). Fourth grandbaby due in just ta month. Haven't bought anything since we don't know the sex. Memaw and Papa will spoil like we do with the other three.

I am thankful...for my health and my husbands, he is beginning to feel better then he has in years. 

One of my favorite things...my sewing machines, love creating, miss my sewing room. Have everything to make JEEP HOLIDAY dish towels. need to have machine set up.

I am creating... Sunflower quilt for my granddaughter. I have the squares cut out need to sew into the 9 patch then will cut a plus through the middle to become a disappearing nine patch. Haven't made one in years. but learned alot from that one. I want a border so have white squares in the nine patch to form the edges.

I am wearing.. Grey shorts and black tank top, I am ready to do some painting today.

I am watching.. should say trying to watch the new Outlander. Also have been watching the Love Comes Softly with my grandkids, they like it. Might have them watch Pride and Prejudice and Little Woman. They love all the older ones like Sound of Music.

I am learning... to relax over smaller things, enjoy the moment more. Thought I already learned this but I slipped back into wanting things a certain way again. Took me getting all stressed and sick where I had to shut down. Everyone kept asking if I was ok, just needed to recharge and adjust myself.

In my garden...My little garden keeps slowly expanding. Was waiting for my husband to complain about location. I have herb garden, Lavender, thyme, chocolate mint, stevia, oregano and rosemary. Then a huge beef steak tomato, just added a bell pepper. Avocado tree, with three more started in the house. Marigolds and another flower but can't remember the name. I am really wanting to build a raised bed or get a rotor tiller and have more. I have this corner of the house that the plants love, it is not the ideal spot for a garden.

In my kitchen... seems tacos is the main food around this house. One cooks tacos and all want. Each couple has had to cook tacos, think tonight will be the third night. We all cook and shop for own food. We found it works best for us: first the cost for feeding 12, next to many different opinions, Lastly, just easier, and each one cleans up after themselves. Attitudes have definitely calmed down. 

Post Script.... I would like to share a website that I have ordered from before and plan to again when my sewing room is up and running again. She has lots of things I want, edge to edge quilting, in the hoop designs. check her out for your embroidery needs.

Designs by JUJU

A moment from my day.... I am so bad at remember to take pictures. I did get this one. My son and girlfriends dog Maggie enjoying my brand new hammock even before me. Love Maggie, I spoil her just like the grandkids. 

To enjoy more daybooks here is a link to The Simple Woman’s Daybooks. Thank Peggy for hosting. Anyone can join anytime, I find it nice to reflect and appreciate all we have.

Enjoy your Day,

Tara

Homemade Laundry Soap

I use to make my laundry soap all the time. I am finally returning back to normal having roots and enjoying making things once again. This time I changed the recipe and liking it alot more. Especially on days I hang my laundry out on the line. Another thing I am glad to be doing again. I have a backyard that is private full of trees and shade and breezes. Nice to get outside with the sun and fresh air.

I have read so much back and forth over borax. Plus I know Borax can be used on carpet to kills fleas. So I decided to skip it, glad I did. Second time I changed up even more, another happy out come!

Here is the recipe I am happy with. I shred two bars of homemade lavender soap. Now you can use castile bar soap any scent or any brand laundry bar soap.

Once shredded I mix with Washing Soda, baking soda and Epsom salt also lavender scent for mine. you can use unscented or any other scent. Then lastly Oxi clean I choose the odor blaster, helps with the hardworking man.

Lastly I mix in Lavender essential oil

just divided between my saved oxi containers. Use a wooden scoop that was a free gift from Buff City.

Still working on drying. Using the wool balls with essential oil but having some static. 

Easter Fun

Easter 2022 we watched Easter movies and learned about Jesus and the tomb. Take the week to several activities. School work also was included by their mom. She had some fun math and writing sheets they colored. As memaw it is fun for me to see their excitement with new things.

Coloring and experimenting.

Our Beautifully dyed hands 

Our eggs came out. experiment Success!

Even though Easter Bunny is untrappable, we are going to try. Easter did come ate the jelly beans, set our trap off but sadly was not inside. He did leave a note and a mess in the yard.

We are cleaning up the yard from Easter bunny, some of it was hard for us to find.

Baby sister helping her first egg hunt

seeing what is in inside the eggs

Woke up Easter morning to our very first lost tooth. 

Candy queen was so happy to find she had her own candy

FINISHED QUILT

Finally finished my first ever QAYG. This all of The Pioneer Woman's fabrics since I couldn't decide on one set.

After I cut all the circles and sewing them together in sandwich of two fabric circles and one batting I turned right side out. Pressed the edges. Took a square template and drew lines to sew the circles together on. (was not thinking of the edges, used a permeant marker. After washing quilt doesn't show as much. Considering embellishments like ribbon or lace as a trim to cover the black lines.)

I sewed 6 circles together and then sewed the edges down to form the window. Next sewed two 6 rows together. Sewed the center edges down. Made less bulk to deal with at the end.

This is the back side which I planned for all the patterns to be seen

The centers of front are the accents colors to The Pioneer Woman's pattern's

in process pic

two done front and below back

Love seeing all her patterns together

Finally Finished 8x10 perfect lap quilt to sit with next to fire place this fall.

My grandbaby decided she loved it as a play blanket.

I followed Jera Bandvig tutorial I am looking forward to using more of her patterns. 

This the original pattern I saw when I began following Jera Bandvig. 

Love comments let me know you were here

Tara

Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today April 11, 2022

Outside my Window…. it is cool, quiet no birds singing, no squirrels playing

I am thinking….about money, bills how I was charged money I for something I did not order 

I am thankful… healing, my burns are improving, one small spot right on incision is still hurting but is healing. Soreness is improving, swelling has decreased greatly

In the kitchen…. planning spaghetti making with my sons girlfriend when they get back from school today. 

 I am wearing... still in sweat top and shorts from sleeping. Well clean up and dress for day soon.

I am creating… cross stitch stocking for my third grandchild

I am going… to try and relax and enjoy today and the beautiful weather

I am wondering…… about many things, how I want to update the kitchen, what colors for outside the house that will look good with the brick. 

I am reading……not reading but have been doing crosswords 

I am hoping and praying… my son gets his home he is trying to purchase. His family can have their own place to call home. Set roots for themselves and their four children.

I am looking forward to…. getting started on my house, making it a home for us.

I am hearing…. grandbaby awake and playing, the other two watching tv before they start school. Otherwise it is very quiet morning so far

Around the house….had a nice weekend, spent outside the whole time. had everyone around, my four children all together at once. Wish I had taken a picture. 

I am pondering…old age questions my sons approached me about them thinking of not just dad and I but their future.

One of my favorite things….having all my children together at one time.  

A few plans for the rest of the week…not going out anywhere if I don't have to after leaving daily by 9am for over a month 

Here is a picture I am sharing….

To enjoy more daybook here is a link to The Simple Woman’s Daybooks. Thank Peggy for hosting.

Beautiful weather

Not many days we have pleasant breezy perfect days. 

Today was one of them, windows open, fresh air filling the house. Everyone wanting to be outside. Not sure who started the balls from the babies ball house. All I heard was snowball fight. Was lots of laughing and giggling happening. Their uncle sat there making parking and roads in the dirt with them, aunt built a race track. Then sister came through with her shovel demolishing it all with her shovel. 

Best is they always clean up when done. 

The Simple Womans Daybook

For Today April 3, 2022

Outside my Window…. birds singing, sun shining with squirrels playing

I am thinking….how I really want to spend more time blogging and reflecting 

I am thankful…my home, it is s a dream come true, another day to be here.

In the kitchen….haven't decided on dinner yet. Waiting for the new Hello fresh box to arrive today.

 I am wearing... comfy short and t-shirt pj's 

I am creating… a cathedral window quilt as you go quilt Jera Brandvig

I am going… to the grocery store ran out of butter, flour, bread.

I am wondering…… what don't I wonder about most of my thoughts lately are on the radiation burning. I know it will stop but daily wonder if it is today. 

I am reading……not reading at the moment. 

I am hoping and praying… I am praying for all my children. Oldest is working on buying a place for his family, second has decisions to make over which grad school. Third work, internships, keeping on track for graduation next year. Then youngest she is looking for new job, one that she enjoys, maybe slower pace then what she was doing.

I am looking forward to…. a new grandbaby coming soon. They are waiting till birth to know boy or girl. Momma wants boy daddy wants girl. Big brother would like to have a brother, since he has two sisters already. 

I am hearing…. the youngest grandbaby going around the house talking and making noises. She is so full of life and fun with lots of energy. It is a huge joy and blessing to hear her laugh and play. Months ago she was in hospital for a month very sick.

Around the house….full house, lots of life. Two are up preparing for school, third will be up soon for school. Grand Kids are up and eating, ready to play. 

I am pondering…honestly? How to answer these thoughts.

One of my favorite things….spring when the world comes alive. Flowers, baby birds, trees green with life.  

A few plans for the rest of the week….don't have to many glad not to rush out door since radiation is over. Will work on quilt, and cross stitch. If nice this week will sit outside.

Here is a picture I am sharing….

To enjoy more daybook here is a link to The Simple Woman’s Daybooks. Thank Peggy for hosting.

Working on new quilt

Have been wanting a Pioneer Woman quilt since she came out with her line of fabric. Made pillowcases to match my comforter already have her throw but not the same as a homemade quilt.

Then I came across Jera Brandvig Quilt as you go. Knew the two where meant for each other.

Quilting in the rain - this the link to the pattern I am using from the below book of Jera Brandvig.

(click picture to see Jera brandvig book)

Didn't think ahead of blogging about this quilt so forgive the lack of pictures. Below you will find a picture of the fabric circles in the process of being cut.

 

                                                       

These two pictures are of my finished circles. Next is to cut a template for a  6 X 6 square then mark lines on each circle for sewing them together. Having hard time seeing the finished size right now, I may add more circle to reach the size I really would like to have in the finish quilt.

                                

Can't wait to see the finished quilt, little worried it will be to small for what I was wanting, but with this pattern I can add on to it at anytime.

Hope you are enjoying your Sunday,

Tara

Time passes…

How did I begin blogging with little, but now have adults? 

My oldest just graduated Paramedic school. Made Sargent in National Guard. Has 3 children and 4th on the way. Married for 5 years. 

Second born is graduating with B.M in music performance has been accepted to 6 graduate schools. Married to his high school sweetheart for 4 years.

Then my third, Junior in college working towards his civil engineering degree. Has a wonderful woman in his life that is also studying the same things as him. 

My baby, couldn’t be more proud of, at 18 she was totally independent had her own place owned her car. Smart as whip when it comes to money and people. She is all I wished I had been more like.  Has a special man that is perfect for her. 

Last night was my sons Senior Recital big deal for music grads. It brought me to tears. Seeing my babies grow into adults and path their way in this world: raising them, all the thoughts, fears, planing, and prayers. Trying to teach them not just arithmetic and English, but Gods word, faith and promises. Commitment, dedication, ethics, self thinkers, self starters, confident people strong and not influenced by the world.

The biggest deal to me is that ALL four still come home and still call and still include me into their life. 

Boost radiation

Had my first boost today. So thankful this is my last week. I am burnt from one last week after taking a week off. The local pharmacy I use aka Walgreens, never ever ever has the silverdene in stock. Thankfully I asked for more before out. 

I look forward to the day I sit and write about more then cancer treatments. 

My joys in pics