fireproof...

My hubby and I went to dinner and movie last night. It was a very nice evening and something I hope we can do a little more often in the future.

I had heard a little about this movie, just that it was Christian and it was about a fireman. I figured that was something my husband and I could enjoy. We did.

I highly recommend this movie to all married couples. When the movie was over, everyone just kind of sat there watching, while the credits rolled. I never do that, I always run out and try to avoid the mob.

I feel like this movie was a gift from God to marriages. No matter where you are at in your marriage, I think there must be something positive here for you to take home and apply it to your own.

I think we both left the theatre last, night looking at our marriage in new light. We have a good marriage , but this made me think how much better it could be, how much better God wants it to be.

A reminder that marriage is a precious gift from God and we need to take really good care of it.

time flies...

Every year I am always amazed how September feels like a blink...

The days and week are so full!

There are so many fun things to do at this time of year, I of course want to do them all! Especially since it gets pretty darn quiet around here during the winter months.

Let's see, this weekend, starting with Friday we went to the Solanco Fair. It's a country fair where the locals strut their stuff, their stuff being cows, sheep, goats, vegetables, canned goods, needlework, crafts, flowers, you just about name it and there is a competition for it. Let's not forget the greased pig contest, a personal favorite-no I do not compete, it's for the little ones.

This coming week is our local township fair and we are really looking forward to it. I'll let you know how we do.

OK, so this weekend we had the fair, Friday night garage saling, also an event around here in the spring and fall. Saturday we went to open house at Millersville University followed by a wiener and smores roast for our mothers group at one of the family's homes-sooo fun!!

Today was Mass this morning, and company for for an early Sunday afternoon dinner.

I am quite pooped, and it was totally worth it!

God is good!

chicken corn soup...

We are winding down the fresh corn season here in Lancaster County. It is so sweet and tasty and abundant at 13 ears for $2.25 at the "Corn Wagon", which is literally big ol' wagons filled to over-flowing with fresh wonderful corn. People come from all over for this stuff, from other states even...

This afternoon, my neighbor and I got together to make Chicken Corn Soup, a local specialty. I have tried to make my own concoction which is good, but it was fun to see how it's "supposed" to be done.

We each went home with a big pot of soup. I was somewhat amazed by the ingredients, for these two pots we used 2 chickens, 3 dozen ears of corn (that's a lot of corn!), about 10 hard boiled eggs (I'm sure I'm not the only one that finds this ingredient a little strange, am I?) and then at the end you make a mixture of egg and flour and drop little dough balls called "rivels" into the pot that basically are like an egg noodle-kinda, sorta...

It was fun to learn a new recipe indigenous to this area. My family enjoyed the soup for dinner and the little one and I had a lovely afternoon with our neighbors.

a little sewing...

These are filled with lavender and rose petals pieced with Tanya Whelan's, Ava Rose fabric.

A pretty, feminine rose print over a vintage, hand embroidered, linen-ish table runner.
Hand towels trimmed with cheery vintage tablecloth and ric rac.
This pillow is made from 1960's waverly fabric-I love the colors on this for the fall!

These are all available for purchase down at Lulu and Tutz. If you haven't been there, pop in and say hi to the two lovely sisters who own the truly unique little boutique.

a lovely day...

Yesterday afternoon my good friend Beth, her 2 sons and my little one and I met at Barnes and Noble. Both our husbands and my other children were otherwise occupied for the day...

There were special guests at story time, therapy dogs! The kids especially enjoyed that part.

Even Beth's son got pulled in.
We spent a total of 4 hours there, yup 4 and it flew! I definitely could have gone a couple more but had to pick up my daughter. Beth's boys read and read and read, and my my little one played with the toy train set and met lots of new friends. Beth and I caught up and browsed through craft books and magazines and we even enjoyed the first pumpkin spice latte of the season, yummy!!

Let us pray...

Let us pray for all those that are or will be affected by Hurricane Ike...

PRAYER FOR SAFETY IN HURRICANE SEASON

O God, Master of this passing world, hear the humble voices of your children. The Sea of Galilee obeyed Your orderand returned to its former quietude. You are still the Master of the land and sea. We live in the shadow of a danger over which we have no control: the Gulf, like a provoked and angry giant, can awake from its seeming lethargy, overstep its conventional boundaries, invade our land, and spread chaos and disaster.

During this hurricane season we turn to You, O loving Father. Spare us from past tragedies whose memories are still so vivid and whose wounds seem to refuse to heal with passing time.
O Virgin, Star of the Sea, Our beloved Mother, we ask you to plead with your Son on our behalf, so that spared from calamities common to this area and animated with a true spirit of gratitude, we walk in the footsteps of your Divine Son to reach the heavenly Jerusalem where a stormless eternity awaits us. Amen.

Most Rev. Maurice Schexnayder (1895-1981)Second Bishop of Lafayette

Here are some terribly out of focus pictures of the very exciting McCain/Palin event here in Lancaster on Tuesday

The crowd went wild. There were thousands of people there. From what I heard there were also thousands that didn't get in. We parked many blocks away walked and stood on line for two hours and then were herded in. The whole thing was remarkebly orderly and not at all unpleasant. Some people arrived quite early and waited hours upon hours in line.

Check out all these press people...
Today on September 11, 7 years after the day, we remember all those who died as well as those loved ones left behind. Living on Long Island at that time we knew too many whose lives changed forever that morning. I can't imagine how difficult and in some ways maybe comforting(knowing we have not forgotten their pain) for the families who must re-live that day in the news coverage and memorial services year after year...

Lord have mercy and give them comfort this day and always.

simple woman...

Monday, September 8, 2008

Outside My Window... cool , sunny, late summer morning

I am thinking...this is going to be a very full week

I am thankful for...hubby being home today

From the kitchen...I will make his favorite for dinner, roast beef, mashed potatoes and a veggie

I am wearing...off white skirt, brown polo, patchwork keds

I am creating...more order in my home

I am going...to do more peach picking in a little while

I am reading...a few Charlotte Mason inspired books

I am hoping...for a good school year

I am hearing...birds outside and the dishwasher humming away

Around the house...Flylady is making a difference

One of my favorite things...cooler weather

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: PTO meeting at High School, John McCain/Sarah Palin town hall meeting tomorrow, little one starts little flowers today and a whole lot more.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Thanks to Peggy over at Simple Woman for starting this Simple Woman Mondays. I have been reading some for quite a while and finally decided to join in.

Have a great Monday!

remembering my thank you's...

This morning, like many other Saturday mornings, I set out to go to a couple of garage sales. Sometimes if my head and heart are in the right place, I remember to consult God before I go. I hate paying full price for anything. I would much rather get what I can second hand whenever I can find it in acceptable condition. I must add, that I am very particular, for those of you who know me in real life, I believe you probably already know that. ;)

This morning as I got in the car, I uttered a quick, semi-conscious prayer and asked the Lord to bless us with some fall clothes for the little one. I went to a couple of garage sales (in the rain-I'm a die-hard when it comes to this) and was able to pick up a few very nice outfits for her. Then, this afternoon my neighbor that has a daughter a year older than mine called with some more lovely things for her to wear this fall that her daughter could no longer use.

I just remembered a few minutes ago that God not only answered my prayer, once again He answered abundantly. My only regret is that I failed to thank Him immediately and abundantly.

I'll try and work on that.

There was a time when I might have been a little embarrassed to say I bought my child's clothes at a yard sale, not anymore!

I now believe it is not only ecologically responsible, but far more importantly it is being a good steward of God's precious gifts, that I don't ever want to waste or take for granted.

living and learning...

That's what we have been up to.

I was considering purchasing a preschool curriculum for her this year. I then came

to my senses and realized that what we are doing for her is more than adequate for a preschool year. We will continue to read lots of good books, work on the basics and spend lots of time outside.

We went for a college visit to Mt. St. Mary's in Emmitsburg Maryland recently. While there, we went to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes which is on the campus. It is so beautiful and peaceful at the Shrine. What will we do when big brother goes off to college... A "beaver lodge" constructed of the iris bulbs daddy pulled out of the garden.


We met some friends from the local Catholic homeschool group for First Friday Mass yesterday morning and then went off to go "Stream Stomping". The kids explored, discovered and had an all around good time.The weather was warm and sunny and the stream was low from no rain, so it was a perfect day at the park.