poverty in my county

My husband just sent me the census information for poverty in the USA.   It was startling to say the least.

Our county has nearly 20% of its population living in poverty.   When I look around, I can see that it is true

I’ve been praying a lot about what I’m supposed to do with this information.   I know I’m being called to do something.  I’m just not sure exactly what yet.

 

today’s gratitude

Today I am grateful for my wood stove.  It is 17 degrees outside and a toasty 74 in the living room.  The bedrooms are holding steady at 55 degrees.  Just about perfect!

peace & bamboo yarn

I think I’ve mentioned before that I love knitting socks.  Last winter I let myself get too busy.  I didn’t get a chance to knit.  I missed it and so made sure that I left enough time in my day to knit this year

This is a lovely bamboo + silk yarn that I bought almost 2 years ago.  It glides over my fingers.  That and the gentle clicking brings me to a peace nearly like that of meditation.

a good start

A good start to the new year: Bible, study, and journal

December reading list

Ender’s Game

Simple Abundance:

Pandora Gets Jealous

Also: Pandora Gets Angry, Pandora Gets Lazy, Pandora Gets Heart.  Watership Down

Bible Study: Apostles’ Creed, Luke.

Hunger Games, Catching Fire & MockingJay

new tradition

:

gift from our electric company

Look what came from our electric company.

It included CFL bulbs, weather stripping, outlet foam, bathroom faucet aerator, low flow kitchen aerator, low flow shower head, blue LED night light, refrigerator thermometer, and a helpful booklet with tons of energy saving tips.

hope

 

 

Hope . . . is taking the seeds out of okra pods in mid-December.  Seeds that can’t be planted until June for food that won’t be ready until August.

tree :: LED lights :: joy

MA Bday

Happy 23rd Birthday Michael!

A Kindle from the Hotz gang, a Kindle case from us, 2 comics, hot cocoa, and snickers.

it’s beginning to look . . .

a lot like Christmas.  The Christmas season always starts with me bringing out a new I Spy puzzle book.  I’m not sure how the tradition started, but we’ve got 6 years’ worth.  Kelly and I sat last night and worked through a couple of them.  It was a wonderful way to settle down after a busy week.

My phone and I are finally starting to understand one another.  Hannah worked hard to teach me how to send myself pictures from my own phone.  Someday I may catch up to the technology in my simple little phone.

finding beauty

There is something about this picture that I love.  I think it is the overall rustic feel, and then there, the dainty teapot.   It is the contrast that startles and draws me.

Like all good art, it has had me thinking all week.

I see the same thing in my lunch bowl:  chicken, brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, yellow pepper, coconut oil, salt and the tiniest bit of cracker pepper.  The colors are really quite striking.  It is all rustic fare, hearty fare, and yet, it is beautiful.

I need to make room in my life for beauty.  Room to see it, time to appreciate it, and once my print (from my previous post) gets here room to display it.

I’m also working on turning “that room” into an office / yoga studio for me.  I was just going to go it and make what is in there work.  However, I think I’ll go slow and be mindful that beauty needs to be represented too.

 

a gift

On this path no effort is wasted

Graduated & Certified

It is official.  I successfully completed my schooling.  My diploma is on its way.  My certification arrived today!

I am now a board licensed Health Coach.

Whoohoo!

So what’s next?

• Latin
• taking a very leisurely month off
• yoga teacher training (starts January)
• Final year of school (for degree) starts in April.

November Reading

The Skin Map

The Bone House

Simple Abundance:  A Day Book of Comfort and Joy

The “High Heels” mystery series — light, fluffy, get away from real life series.   NOT for young girls. The Lost Hero, The Son of Neptune.  The Green Bible:  Old Testament (Psalms), New Testament (Luke)

With School Kids: Wind in the Willows, Watership Down, The Story of the World volume 2, and Redwall

For my school: The Primal Tightwad, Primal Body Primal Mind

Unplugged Sunday

The Day Before Thanksgiving

Pumpkin Pie Crust:

• 2 1/2 cups walnuts
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 TB melted coconut oil
• Put all in the food processor and go to town — until it looks crumbly.
• Bake 350 degrees for 15 minutes

Pumpkin Pie custard:

• 15 oz pumpkin
• 1 c coconut milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 pks stevia
• 1 TB arrowroot
• pumpkin pie spices to taste
• 3 eggs
• Put all in vitamix and give it a spin.
• Put in pre-baked walnut shell and bake 350 degrees for 50 minutes

 

Raspberry Vinegrette (that turned out more like raspberry mayonaise)

• 1/2 pint raspberries
• 1 tsp mustard
• 1 TB lemon juice
• 1 TB red wine vinegar
• 2/3 cup olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• Place all in vitamix and whirl away.

Granny Slifer Cookies:  I wrote about these in another post

 

And . . . cranberry sauce

Thanksgiving Morning –

1. turkey
2. rolls
3. salad
4. Get ourselves to the Fisher’s at noon to share!

a closet full of clothes for $50

I’ve been making weekly treks to the thrift store looking for clothes for this winter.  I finally finished up when Hannah and I went out for my birthday!

I had:

• a shelf full of underwear, bras, slips, socks, and workout gear.
• 3 sets of PJ’s that include a long shirt, t-shirt (from races we’ve walked) and flannel bottoms.
• LBD and clutch
• 2 pair of black LL Bean perfect pants, 1 pair of khaki pants, 1 pair of bl leggings
• 1 red sweater, 3 LL Bean fleece sweat shirts, 6 long-sleeed t-shirts
• 1 black skirt, 1 denim skirt
• 2 scarves, 1 hat, 1 pair nice gloves, black boots, brown boots, brown mocs, and my walking shoes.
• 1 rain jacket and 1 denim jacket

For $50 I added:

• 2 pair LL Bean perfect pants (gray and brown) $20, because I had a $50 gift certificate
• 3 pair jeans for $9 total
• 3 sweaters for $9
• 1 London Fog coat with liner for $1!  I kid you not!
• 1 winter coat for $1!  Again, I kid you not!
• 2 large sweatshirts for cold mornings / cold nights and taking walks $5
• exercise hat and 2 pair cotton gloves $5

Race for Grace 5K

Just a couple of pictues — me with “the kids” and Hannah and Cass, before the walk.

My Birthday

I had a lovely birthday this year.

Michael got me “The Lion King” and even danced with me a bit.

Hannah and I went to Panera Bread, target, and New to You.  I got some much needed jeans and a couple of sweaters.

Kelly and I listened to a bunch of old music and talked.

It could not have been any better.

*Silly photo alert!  Hannah snapped a very candid photo in Target . . .