Yesterday we picked 45 pounds of apples. Today Bella, I mean Mady, made her first apple pie. (Home Ec. homeschool style is awesome). And my sweet Mady is awesome.
And then we had an impromptu harvest-potluck-picnic in my front yard with the neighbors. Dinner for 13 in ten minutes flat. (People often ask us if they can live in our hood. The answer is yes, we are accepting applications... ).
Yesterday we hiked to Fragrance Lake with a family from our homeschool group. We have been wanting to hike Fragrance for a long time, so I am glad we had another family along as a distraction. Two miles uphill and two back, but even Keston did great. She's such a nature girl. If there are snails, fungus or nurse stumps to be found, she finds them.
The other family matches up perfectly with ours, which is rare, considering how spread out our family is in age. Their oldest daughter is a good friend of Mady's from MP3, our homeschool group. It is so nice to find a family that entertains everyone, and with similar values. It was a day well spent.
So I can barely find time for posting lately, thanks to Jen's great plan to make me be organized. (I should mention, items #1-4, #11 & 12 are done, as is my bedroom (repainted even!) and guest bathroom. #6 and #15 each are in-the-midst, but nearly completed). Whew!
Then I just saw another "Friday Facts" at sweet Alliwoo's blog, and decided to be a full-fledged copy-cat. (And by the way, have you noticed people don't say copy-cat anymore? They say, "oh, I was so inspired by so-and-so", which really translates to "I am a total copy-cat!" Anyway. So I am copy-catting Allison. Down to the photo of summer, which I have been longing for a lot this week. I miss my kids with tanned little faces and sand on their noses, and camping, and Slurpees, and receiving sea shells as gifts, and going to the beach at every moment possible. (But not snakes, I do not miss the snakes. I am already worried). Did I mention my other neighbor, not my favorite Jen, suggested Immersion Therapy? No Christmas cookies for you, buddy. Anyway... Friday Facts. Copy-catted, in case you have forgotten.
Thankful for: waking up without a migraine today!
Listening to: Jenson and Keston helping each other brush their teeth, and giggling together.
What's for dinner: I have no idea! So much for meal planning! The one area I am pretty good at being organized about usually. Must be all my organizational skills were needed elsewhere...
Looking forward to: the end of February, when the Total Home Organization Project is done, and presumably, my house is Totally Organized. We'll see... also looking forward to our refinance being closed. And our resulting debt-free-ness. I will have a party. :)
Missing: Druann and Sophia, so much! Biggest Loser watching is way less fun all by myself. If they were here, I am sure they'd help me make the 100 tissue covers that need to be made, and they would eat my cooking and declare it delicious, and they would knit and crochet with me, and they would make me laugh til I cried, and we would play Scrabble with really crazy invented words.
My day was even better than Bliss! I knew I would love it, but I really loved it!
Can I just say again, I have the most incredible, sweet, kind, generous, and thoughtful friends. I am amazed. I didn't find one, but two packages at my door today...
Both brought me to tears. One of them contained a sweet card, coffee, a candle, and more. (Thank you, sweet Aumony!). And the other, an adorable handmade card and a gift to enjoy a dinner date with my husband on our anniversary! (Oh my goodness - it was sooooo delicious! I had never been to On Rice. Yum!) Thank you Andi and Chantel! I am continually amazed that God has provided for every single one of our needs, and so many desires too. And Misha, you are just lovely! Thank you friends, for being the hands and feet, and part of my perfect day.
Before all of that excitement, the kids and I enjoyed the gorgeous sunshine, and walked along Taylor Dock. ...And then it was paper chains galore. A perfect day. And I have had SO many of these perfect days lately. I am filled-up.
So I guess not everyone I know goes to Mops, and therefor you have fragmented stories! Let me set the record straight... :) A little graphic-gross, be warned.
I had been having a migraine since Sunday. Oh, back up. Two months ago I stopped buying my outrageously expensive migraine pills, and started using Tylenol and oxycodone instead. It worked so-so and slowly, but it seemed to be ok. So anyway, I had a headache that kept getting worse until Tuesday morning, and I was told to go to the ER.
My sweet Mops friend Chantel drove me, on her way to Mops that morning. (Hence, all of Mops knew the story!) I am pretty sure I dry-heeved out the car door the entire way to the hospital. When we got there, they asked my pain level, and for the first time in my life, I said 10. Keep in mind I have had three children without epidurals and cancer... So it was sort of intense. :) They took me into the hospital right away. Awesome hint: to avoid long waits at the ER, vomit in the triage area non-stop and claim a 10 for pain, Should work beautifully!
From there I got an IV, and at least nine medications that I can remember, including some heavy duty stuff. Nothing seemed to be working longer than five minutes, and the "retching" continued for many hours while Frank held my hand (and kindly tied up the back of my gown now and then). I should mention I did have pants on, sheesh, people!
They did a CT scan to rule out anything serious, and it was fine. Eventually I suggested "how about my regular migraine medication?" Since they don't stock it at the hospital, Frank went out to buy it. After a little while, it started working. By that time they had decided to keep me overnight.
My neighbors in the hospital were horrible! Horrible!! I have never heard such racist comments or language in my life! I really didn't know that still existed, and I was so disgusted. I only wish I had been a little more 'together' to confornt and/or punch them. So Amanda, Collin, and the oh-so-elegant Aunt Margaret - if you are out there, You Disgust Me! You are so ignorant and offensive it is beyond my imagination. PS- too bad security caught you, Amanda, when you snuck out to smoke and there was a CODE ROAM. They should have locked you out.
I digress.
Anyway, I went home Wednesday afternoon, was spoiled by my ever-generous friends with offers of help, prayers, meals delivered while I was gone, and meals once I was home. You guys really are wonderful and self-less, and I am so thankful to be a part of 'us'. Its so nice to know your true friends. I have so many. :) Clarified: Outside of Mops too! Sorry, that is what I meant to begin with. :) I am such a girl, I re-think everything I say, whether someone would take it incorrectly. Except you Amanda, I really just don't like you. Sorry.
And that's that! I am home. I took Jenson to school in my pajamas this morning. Not because I am sick, but because that is normal behavior for me. :) Today I am still taking it easy and going for a massage to try to work out some of my migraine causes. And then I'm done. Let's not do it again anytime soon.
Now, sweet friends, who wants to be first in line for paybacks? I can do some pretty good baking (mint fudge anyone?) and also specialize in Portobello Ravioli. Just let me know, I'll start a list. I love you guys. :)
(Photo courtesy of Mady's broken arm trip to the ER last spring. We like to hang out there, keeps us interesting). Here's how you know I was really sick - I didn't even think to bring my camera!
PS- I just categorized my post under travels. I crack myself up sometimes.
Tending to the details. Living within our means. Keeping the faith. Being loved by some very, very, wonderful friends.
My sweet friend Iman brought me this hand-painted bowl from her travels in Jerusalem this summer. Isn't it gorgeous? She bought some for her blog friend too. Who happens to be NieNie. Sadly, toward the end of Iman's trip, we learned of NieNie's accident. So instead of giving these bowls to NieNie for her family's oatmeal, Iman is auctioning them off, to donate to the recovery fund for the Nielsons. The auction is here, and ends at midnight. The bowls are lovely, I can assure you!
to celebrate Ramadan with my dear friend Iman.
She was the most gracious and welcoming hostess!
We took off our shoes, and were offered the traditional dates to break fast. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from sun-up to sun-down, with not so much as a drink of water, while they focus on a deeper relationship with Allah.
Iman told my family we shouldn't do anything we weren't comfortable with, or eat anything we didn't like. As guests, we took our food first. We were invited to sit right alongside as they said their prayers. She made us feel completely comfortable during the entire evening.
Iman's husband Monem sang/chanted a melodic 'Call to Prayer' in Arabic. The men gathered in behind him, and the women gathered in a row following. It was beautiful!
After a few prayers, we ate some light snacks. I only wish I had thought to fast throughout the day too, in order to fully experience it.
Next, a series of more prayers, repeated in unison. Incredible to watch. Iman is always so elegant!
And then, a feast! We all sat on the floor, with table cloths spread around. So traditional, we loved it! The children played and danced,and it was all quite festive.
As the evening was coming to an end, Iman gifted me a gorgeous bowl from her travels to Jerusalem. I love it! Read about her travels here.
To learn more about Ramadan, we got some books from the library that explained Islamic culture quite simply. It's a very peaceful religion, just the opposite of how the extremists live their lives. If you would like to know more, Iman can surely answer your questions about the religion that is dear to her. As well, you can still catch the movie she and Monem have made, October 9th.
Iman and Monem, thank you! Our family very much enjoyed our first Ramadan! Iman, you are just lovely.
Iman's blog is here, with photos in focus. :)
I scored this entire set of vintage Swiss Chalet dishes at Goodwill for $14.50.
I justified another set of dishes because of having two daughters. Of course they'll each need a set for future inheritance, right? Good, because then I discovered that not only is there this version, but the pattern is also on some rare pyrex & fireking too. I am up for that challenge.
**Updated-- You have to be kidding me!! I fell in love with this pattern about two years ago, after seeing a bowl full of fruit at my Mops group (of 120 or so women). I LOVED that bowl. I've been carrying around the pattern in my head for all that time, wishing I knew who it belonged to. And at times, wishing I had just collected it with my own things and went home. (Not really). I knew I had seen it as a pyrex-y type bowl. And oddly, after typing my post, I clicked over to my dear friend's blog. You have to check it out. Of course it was hers! We are seriously like two peas when it comes to our tastes. (Now I see her bowl sitting on the same dish towel that I have). Her post and mine were only written about an hour apart from each others. After two long years, the mystery is solved! PS, sweet Andi, I love you!
Last night, we were honored to attend a premier for an amazing film about my friend Iman and her husband Monem. The documentary is based in Bellingham, centered around their lives as American Muslims. The documentary shows the path Monem takes to get his pilot license, but truly, Iman steals the show! They are both very funny, and the film is amazing. Aside from the funny stuff, my favorite part was when Monem was talking about needing to travel a lot for work. He said that he is able to do it, because he trusts that Iman can handle everything at home, and she does it well. As a Christian, that's exactly what I am to be supposed to strive for, to be my husband's helpmeet. Interesting, isn't it? The film does an excellent job of showing that although they are of a religion that isn't common in America, they are so similar in so many ways.
Can't recommend enough that everyone sees it. Really, you will be laughing, and find them both very endearing and interesting.
Check here for PBS TV listings (airing nationwide)
Showing this week locally at the Pickford.
Check your own local indie theater to see if it's coming there!
A clip of the film here.
And here, meet them.
Now, please watch it! You'll thank me!
