Tea Talk -- Content With What You Have

Welcome to my home for Ruth's Tea Talk!

Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.

To participate, click on Ruth's button above.

I'm having...a glass of iced tea once again.  It's just a little warmer and nicer out, and this may be my last glass of iced tea for a while.  I'm so glad I had lemons in the fridge!  My glass is a garage-sale find for 20 cents, and it feels nice in my grip.  I took this photo a week or so ago, right after I canned a small batch of jalapeños and homemade salsa.

I'm feeling...good after feeling a little "icky" last week.  I guess hormonal changes are normal at this stage of life!

On my mind...is helping Danny get his driver's license.  I'm getting worn down accompanying him to school three days a week.  At least I get concentrated time with Thomas (he goes with me) while he gets his schoolwork done, plus I have a little time while waiting, so I can read or work on my schedule.  Here's a shot from last week's college time.  What fun to be sitting with Thomas and see Lori's son Bryan walk by.  We had a great time chatting together before he had to go to class.

I leave you with...a quote taken from the book, Organized Simplicity, that you see in the above photo.  I have much to ponder about further simplifying my life!

We don't need to increase our goods

nearly as much as we need to scale down our wants.

Not wanting something is as good as possessing it.

Donald Horban

And a "corresponding" quote from my favorite book:

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money,

being content with what you have; for He Himself has said,

"I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you."

Hebrews 13:5 NASB

Variegated beard-tongue in my front yard garden

Back to life,
Christine

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Beauty in Autumn

"There is rhythm to being a farmgirl.

It is the rhythm of working hard when there is work to be done.

It is the rhythm of finding joy in the "doing" of the work.

It is also the rhythm of slowing down to enjoy each moment."

Rene Groom

I'm linking up with Lori's Friday Farm Girls @ Heart today.

Normally, I post my flower photos over on my photography blog, but today, I was musing on the beauty that I've seen this autumn season so far.  Even as the warmth of summer fades, veggies are harvested, and flowers begin to fade, I can find beauty in the Lord's creation.

I'm starting off at my home, below.  We have a pie-wedge yard, with the point in the back, so our very long front extends from the edge of white fence on the left all the way to the edge of the brown wood fence on the right.  There is lots of grass to mow!

Below shows one of my gardens, which the guys helped build.  I've shown it before, but it sure looks pretty this day as the sun nears its setting.

This is my new "dirt pile" garden, near the walkway to the front porch of the house.  Earlier this summer, I transplanted all these flowers from the above garden to this pile of dirt.  The Asiatic lilies have died back, but the Russian sage has bloomed in its pretty purple array.

Detail of Russian sage

I found a dianthus flower, as well as my variegated beard-tongue, still blooming in the first garden.

And in my back yard, I enjoyed spotting the fruit of my cherry tomato plant.  Most of my cherry tomatoes never made it into the house; I usually popped them into my mouth as I worked the garden.  (Shh--I didn't wash them first!)

Lori spotted this huge guy in her green peppers one afternoon.  I've never seen one bigger, and he kept turning around and looking at Lori, who was behind him!

I'm so thankful to the Lord that He gave us this season of warmth, with all of its color and beauty, for us to stop and savor up for the winter.  Just as I can my tomatoes and other vegetables, to "save up" for the long winter, I am trying to save up the warmth and beauty and color of summer to enjoy all winter long.

I'm also thankful that the Lord allowed me precious time to stop and linger over His creation.  Amid our hectic autumn schedule, He gave me peaceful moments.  Thank You, Lord, for slowing me down just a bit!


Back to life,
Christine

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Tea Talk -- Tranquil and Quiet

Welcome to my home for Ruth's Tea Talk!

Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.

To participate, click on Ruth's button above.

Totally just for fun--the driver of this vehicle stopped at our garage sale a few weeks ago!

I'm having...black currant rooibos, bought at our farmers market from the Spice Merchant and Tea Room, in my Gibson china teacup.  Alas, I broke my Portmeirion china mug from our Vero Beach trip, so it is no more.  Why do we get emotionally attached to things?  [Well, it's gone, and enough of that, now, Christine.]

I'm feeling...better and rested after suffering stomach distress of some sort late through the night Monday, then on Tuesday.  I did have a wonderful time with Fernando on Monday; he took me out to eat for our 24th anniversary!  We had a great time together, lots of conversation as usual, and some really delicious food at Francesca's at the Promenade.  Maybe that tummy thing was something I ate, but everything was mmm, mmm, good!

On my mind...is getting some good walking shoes for winter.  I'm laughing that this is what is actually on my mind.  But I have two pairs of two-year-old shoes that make my feet hurt if I walk for any length of time.  Now that the weather has decided it was autumn, my feet have been cold.  Even with the cold, though, I haven't wanted to wear either socks or shoes!  I've been wearing ergonomic flip-flops outside, and after freezing at Danny's college Wednesday morning, I decided that good new shoes were more of a necessity than simply a desire.  Praise the Lord that our garage sale proceeds and budget money are enough to purchase a quality pair.  Soon I'll have happy feet!

I leave you with...I always try to share a passage of Scripture that has been meaningful to me recently.  Today, though, I'd like to first share a quote I read in a book I'm reading (in the photo above) called Organized Simplicity.  The quote begins the chapter regarding money being a tool, and goes like this:

There is no dignity quite so impressive,

and no independence so important,

as living within your means.

Calvin Coolidge

Though this quote speaks to finances, it also speaks to other areas of my life in which I'm "overspending:"  time, and accumulation of stuff.  Am I booking so much into my calendar that I have no time for family, friendships, or even rest?  Have I been accumulating so many things--whether physical stuff or worry/cares--that meaningful time with the Lord is crowded out with concern for other things, or taking care of/cleaning/maintaining my stuff?  These are questions I've been using to check the simplicity (or lack of) of our family's lifestyle.  Sure, we homeschool.  Sure, we're together a lot.  Sure, we've cultivated family and other relationships.  But recently, busy schedules and a realization of just how much stuff we have actually amassed has me questioning--can we simplify?  I think we can.  This book has helped so far.  :)

Now for the appropriate Scripture.  :)  This Scripture references prayer for all men, and those in authority, so that...

...so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life

in all godliness and dignity.

1 Timothy 2:2b NASB

That seems to fit with a life of simplicity, doesn't it?  I'm not only longing for it, I'm beginning to plan and work for it, too.  I'm getting excited about it.  :)

Detail of flower at my friend Patsy's home

Back to life,
Christine

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Family Date Night!

Labor Day weekend started out with a two-day multi-family garage sale in our driveway.  Temps were in the 90s and it was very humid, but we survived.  Barely.

And everyone made money!  We celebrated having a great garage sale by having a family date at Andy's on Sunday.  Isn't this a wonderful sign to see?  It beckons us to come on in and have some yum.  :)

Now this is what life is all about:  family, together, and ice cream.  A great combination.  This is tongue-in-cheek humor, of course.  And tongue-licking lips, and lip-smacking good.  :)

Sun in their eyes

Our yum-yum, waiting for us behind the window...

Fernando thinks he has to look at the camera whenever I take a picture.  Jacob is simply goofing off.

See?  Lots of fun, laughter, and yummy in our tummy.

Thomas paid for a root beer out of his own money so he could make his own root beer float.

Best brothers and buds, sharing a seat.

This is what frozen custard does to our boys.  They're pretty normal otherwise...

The more serious-but-still-slightly-goofy brother picture.

I love my family.


Back to life,
Christine

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Farm Girls + Farmers Market = Happy

"There is rhythm to being a farmgirl.

It is the rhythm of working hard when there is work to be done.

It is the rhythm of finding joy in the "doing" of the work.

It is also the rhythm of slowing down to enjoy each moment."

Rene Groom

I'm linking up with Lori's Friday Farm Girls @ Heart today.

Today's Friday Farm Girls post is about slowing down to enjoy a morning with my hubby Fernando.  I'd heard about this farmers market from Lori all summer long, and I hinted to Fernando that it might make a nice date one Saturday morning.  He told me to wake him up, and last Saturday I did, and we went to Wheaton together.  :)

This was a new experience for me--a huge farmers market.  I've been to small ones, and our local market is also small.  I wasn't used to narrow aisles with tons of people, and a dizzying array of things being sold.  It was so much fun.

The first booth down the first aisle was the best booth.  Mostly because Lori was manning her son's knife-sharpening booth.  ;)

Bryan is good.  Real good.  I love my knives, and it was fun to watch him in action.

I didn't take a lot of pictures; mostly I was trying to take everything in.  It really was a fun overwhelming few hours!  We purchased yummy sandwiches from Suzette's, a baguette and a chocolate croissant (all mine) from the French nuns' booth, and a big box of the sweetest Michigan blueberries I have ever tasted.

I had to resist the urge to buy all the vegetables I saw.  I love farmers markets.  :)

I had a happy morning, connecting with my husband and exploring local vendors, local produce, and local products.  Happy.


Back to life,
Christine

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Tea Talk -- Light, Salvation, Defense

Welcome to my home for Ruth's Tea Talk!

Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.

To participate, click on Ruth's button above.

Sunday -- On my way to a prairie sunset

I'm having...my usual morning cup of Trader Joe's Irish breakfast tea, with honey and cream.  I have this every morning unless I run out--which I try not to do.  :)

I'm feeling...good health-wise.  And otherwise, continuing to focus on the Lord as our family has been experiencing testing and/or trial these past two weeks.  We have some decisions to make--good decisions--that require prayer and good communication within our family, and which may be leading us down a new path.  This is an exciting thing, but we're experiencing testing that we believe is equal to the move of God upon our lives.  Satan definitely doesn't want us moving forward for God's Kingdom!  So he resists.  And we are standing firm.

Almost set

On my mind...is the court proceeding Danny and I experienced yesterday.  After a long wait, Danny stood before the judge (for a minor fender-bender he had a number of weeks ago), and was assigned to traffic school, and to appear with the class' certificate in hand on December 28.  Ugh.  So this trial continues.  And we still have to pay the fine, plus an extra $40 for traffic school.

I leave you with...a section of a Psalm of fearless trust in God.  Fernando and I read this earlier in the week, and it was a great encouragement to us as we face the aforementioned trials.

The LORD is my light and my salvation;

Whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the defense of my life;

Whom shall I dread?

When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,

My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.

Though a host encamp against me,

My heart will not fear;

Though war arise against me,

In spite of this I shall be confident.

Psalm 27:1-3 NASB

Prairie sunset

Back to life,
Christine

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Tea Talk -- Come to Me

Welcome to my home for Ruth's Tea Talk!

Sit and share a cup of tea with me as we encourage each other in the Lord.

To participate, click on Ruth's button above.

I'm having...iced tea with lemon on this hot, humid day.  I'm sitting in my special spot, trying to stay cool and wondering what happened to our two weeks of fantastic weather.  HHH (Chicago term = hazy, hot, + humid) reared its head today, and will be here for our garage sale tomorrow, too.  Figures.  *crosses eyes*

I'm feeling...good physically, overwhelmed mentally with everything that I can't get done as usual.  Why?  I ask myself.  Argh.  It's so frustrating to have everything organized, know what I'm supposed to be doing, and life's schedule throws everything into this whirlwind I'm supposed to be able to handle.  More on that following...

On my mind...the above issue, obviously.  I tend to slow down during those humid summer days, but I need anything but a slow-down right now!  Garage sale this weekend with two other dear families, an all-day Labor Day cookout to prepare for and attend (which will be fun, it's just the crazy prep part), then SCHOOL officially on Tuesday.  I've been spending my days trekking to various college campuses with Danny, while trying to get things done (sure wish I had a laptop).  And poor Thomas is stuck doing whatever schoolwork he can without me at home.  He needs a computer to watch his math DVDs, and I don't have our history curriculum yet, or Biology lessons sorted out yet.  I hate to do all this on Sunday afternoon, but it looks like that's the only time I'll have to "get it all done."  Sigh.

I leave you with...well, it's more for me than for you.  I'm so sorry about this crazy post!  I guess you now get to see me all unglued and coming apart at the seams.  I'm being all Martha right now, running around trying to figure out how to do it all.  But the Lord's calming hand of mercy touches my heart, and I know He has it all under control.  I leave it with Him.

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden,

and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,

for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.

For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30 NASB

Back to life,
Christine

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