::'~ A beautiful birthday purse from my friend ~'::
::'~Freshly ironed aprons ~'::
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::'~ A posy from my garden ~'::

My man and I spent the day outside planting flowers and preparing for a big supper barbecue with our families and Seth & Charity. It was chilly in the morning and evening, but the afternoon warmed up nicely. We grilled hamburgers, brats, ribs, and everyone brought a salad.

of payloader attachments and metal lathes

Caleb and I had a great Saturday with our friends Seth and Charity. We drove up to their house Friday night, and on Saturday the guys went out to work at the shop. Caleb was busy building quick-attach plates for a rake thing so it could be attached to a payloader, and also another attachment to convert a bucket (I think it was) so it could go on the payloader as well. It was pretty nifty. Charity and I came over with the little ones in the late afternoon to see what they had been working on and to watch until suppertime. The big shop door was open so we got to enjoy the lovely warm evening.

::Our friends::

a restful moment

{tea with Grandma}

A bit of whimsy ~'::

A corner for visiting friends ... complete with twinkle lights swooped from the ceiling.

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(What you can't see is that the bed is back in a little recessed part of the room that is only just as wide as a twin-sized mattress. So cozy.)

Daddy's helper

The Simple Woman's Daybook

I'm back!

FOR TODAY ~May 19th~

Outside My Window... are different shades of new green leaves and blossoms—chokecherry and lilac. It thrills me to see everything green up like this!

I am thinking... about the Monday catch-up things to do and how to beautify the outside of my house with growing things.

I am thankful for... the peace a day of routine brings in the midst of delightful (but very busy) visits and projects and such.

From the kitchen... peanut butter, oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies, fried ham and onions with mashed potatoes, plenty of Monday morning coffee with half ‘n’ half.

I am wearing... my brown nursing dress, hair in a flippy ponytail, bare feet.

I am creating... order out of weekend clutter!

I am going... to try to catch up with some laundry today. I wonder … it looks kind of cloudy out … do you suppose it will rain on my clothes if I hang them out?

I am reading... the different places to go and people to see from my calendar … a busy week!

I am hoping... to be able to spend some time outside soaking in sunshine and gardening … it looks like the temperature will be warm enough!

I am hearing... just the sound of the computer and refrigerator running. I’ll need to change that! There’s a washing machine to be reloaded and books on tape to be listened to, I think it’s warm enough to open a couple of windows again too.

Around the house... is laundry to be folded, dishes to be washed, meat thawing to be cooked, floors to be vacuumed … ok, I’m going now.

One of my favorite things... evening gardening with my man and now my Rosebud.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

Visiting with my sister and cousin at my house tomorrow and Wednesday, hopefully planting the rest of our garden with my man, seeing my good friend Em and her precious girlie visiting from Texas on Thurs., finishing up the organizing project in my closet, maybe getting our boat fixed in time for Memorial Day weekend boating on the lake?

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

me and my girl

*******

from Peggy at The Simple Woman

Remember! If you would like to use this idea on your own blog, please go first to Peggy at The Simple Woman and see her guidelines. Make sure you give her credit and sign her Mister Linky. Thank you!

Sunset

kombucha

I finished making my first-ever batch of kombucha.

It tastes delicious and is super fizzy. I am so pleased!

....................::'~ ~'::....................

a little girl's room

decorating with steel

As someone who loves the contrast of light and texture in decorating, the thought of incorporating steel into my cozy home decor intrigues me. Since meeting Caleb (who is, if you didn't already know, a metal worker and a good one) my appreciation for steel has much increased. I always did think that, given the chance, I would love to have an all-stainless kitchen (wow...pause for meditation on that thought), but I have come to be fascinated by it in non-stainless form as well. I could write a whole post on it. Don't worry, I will spare you for now. Anyway, when I first watched Caleb drill into a piece of steel and saw how it curled off of the drill bit and fell off in ringlets, I knew that I had to have some of those curls. They delighted me to such an extent that one day Caleb found some long, perfectly formed ones for me to have for my very own. I was thrilled. I use them as a sort of garland in my living room; right now they're on my shelf. Something so hard and strong laying in a thin pile of curls in contrast to warm wood, clear glass, fine porcelain ... it makes me happy. The light glints off of its curves. Perfect.

My favorite wooden spools of thread are out again for me to enjoy!
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blue eyes

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My happy little girl ~'::

The Simple Woman's Daybook

From The Simple Woman

FOR TODAY...

Outside My Window... green grass growing tall and lush, birds hopping and singing, a clothesline full of little girl dresses, sheets, bibs, etc.

I am thinking... about getting my house straightened, the fact that my girl needs her diaper changed and what we'll spend the evening doing as a family.

I am thankful for... long walks on a spring evening.

From the kitchen... fajitas and a green salad for dinner; I am not yet sure about supper, but I do have hamburger thawed.

I am wearing... my cornflower-blue nursing dress. ;) Also flip-flops, hair down and wavy from a braid, and my sculpey bead jewelry.

I am creating... places to organize and store girl clothes up in Greta's room--a needful thing after yesterday's baby shower at church. Thankfully among the gifts were some pretty baskets!

I am going... to go change the laundry around and kiss my Rosebud's cheeks.

I am reading... washing directions from the tags of little sunhats and pink sweaters.

I am hoping... to have the word of God become more and more the very air I breathe.

I am hearing... the sound of the washing machine spinning, birds tweeting and lawn mowers mowing.

Around the house... thank you cards to write in and send off on my table, springy-colored wooden spools of silk thread in a turquoise glass bowl, some piles of folded laundry to put away, hand-washed diaper covers drying on the backs of my dining room chairs (which are hardly dining room chairs because I don't really have a dining room but a main room in which we dine but I thought if I said dining room chairs you would better understand what I meant :)).

One of my favorite things... eating fresh sprouts--all that crunchy, juicy, green wonderfulness.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
Enjoy some sunshine, pull weeds in my flower beds, visit with my Mama and sibs tomorrow, get caught up on a bit more housework, bleach my shower curtain liner ;) ... a usual pleasantly quiet week.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

little sunhats

summerish jewelry

I know it's not summer yet, but I was in the mood. :)

me and my girl