A Laundry Basket Dresser!

 My old hamper had taken quite the beating. It was nothing fancy...something inexpensive that was well-used for years. When I realized it was definitely on it's *last leg*, I mentioned something to Chris about it. Then the option comes up whether to 1. buy another one or 2. make one. Chris is most certainly talented enough to make one...but time is not something he has an over-abundance of.

While comparing prices on ones I could buy...I decided to check out ones that could be made. One of my favorite sites for wood-working DIY projects is THIS one! (Have you ever seen it before? It has so many fabulous projects!) I found THIS page that has a Laundry Basket Dresser! This was just perfect! I showed the picture to Chris...and off he flew with it! He didn't even use the directions...he just did his own, custom thing!

It took him just a couple of days to make (when he had time). He finished it, just tonight! I couldn't be happier with it! It is just wonderful! Here are some photos of the process...

Look how it is coming together!!!

After some finishing touches...Chris finished it...in the dark!

Here it is...all set up! I need to get a couple more of those same clothes baskets to fit in the bottom two slots! It is just wonderful and I am so thrilled! (It's funny, isn't it...the things that give you joy when you are a wife and mother? If you would have asked me, in my teenage years, if a laundry basket dresser would be exciting,  I would have thought you were crazy!) I love it and will put it to good use! Another thing that makes it so special is that Christopher made it!!! :)

We had a lovely Sunday. After a time of worship and fellowship at church, we came home and for lunch, enjoyed angelhair spaghetti, sauce and challah bread (I'll share more about that another day, soon). After a restful afternoon (where the "I'm not tired" comments soon turned into three children snoring), I began supper as Chris continued the work, above, and the children played. For supper, I made baked cheesy chicken, mashed potatoes and corn (canned from last year's garden). I treasure supper-time...the sharing of the days' happenings, word games, laughter and good food. I am sad for the families who *don't* spend their meals around the table, together. Not only is it a time to come and simply *be* together, but also a chance to graciously thank God for the food He provides! :) 

Well, as I glance down at the clock, right down in the corner of this computer, I see that it is getting *way* past my bedtime...and tomorrow has much to be done. It will do no good if this mama wakes in the morning cranky and tired for lack of sleep! ;) Thank you for sharing in my excitement with me about this new laundry system! I can't wait to *put it to work*! 

Warmly,

Katy

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Women Living Well

Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 

1 Peter 1:2b

"Be simple...

... take our Lord's hand and walk through things." 
~ Fr. Andrew

I feel as though I have so much to share...so much on my heart as of late. There is so much I want to say...and yet, don't. I desire peace and simplicity....but this isn't always the case ~ especially when striving to live biblically in a fallen world. I have been struggling, for a time, with things. My faith is solid and firm...but as it grows, so does my awareness and frustration with things that are not biblical. I want to love, love, love....but at the same time, not lose sight of the Truth. 

Many disagree with my beliefs...and say so. Some have even said I twist scripture...when I actually believe it's quite the contrary! I suppose, I will just keep praying and digging deeper. I follow Christ...and will keep doing so. If others think I am *off*...I will examine my beliefs with scripture, again, and hold true to how the Holy Spirit leads me. 

As J.C. Ryle said:

"The cross of Christ will always bring reproach with it. If a man will become a decided evangelical Christian he must make up his mind to lose the world's favour; he must be content to be thought by many a perfect fool."

"The wise are those who have that wisdom which the Holy Ghost alone can give. They know their sins, they know Christ, they know how to walk and please God, and they act upon their knowledge. They look on life as a season of preparation for eternity, not as an end but as a way, not as a harbour but a voyage, not as a home but a journey, not as full age but a school. Happy are those who know this!"

"Some will be content to belong to the church, others will never be content unless they also belong to Christ."

So, now, I walk with my Lord...content to be thought a fool for Him and thankful to belong to Him, forever! ♥ Ryle was such a wise man. I am enjoying his book "Heading for Heaven". 

Here, at home, time has been spent cleaning and rearranging. 

I started moving some things around on this bureau. I hung up the shelf (a thrifting find) and moved some things that used to be here. In the jar is my homemade laundry soap. 

A closer look at the shelf...

More adding-to and rearranging...

For my sister's birthday...I made her some all-natural,multi-purpose cleanser (borax, water, castile soap and lemon essential oil). I also knitted her some dishcloths...

I put it all into a basket with some other fun items and this is how it turned out...

Thursday morning, the children, my mom and I took a trip to visit Devon to celebrate her birthday! We had a nice time visiting, celebrating and *eating*! :)

Madelyn...

I really must get going now...the day holds busyness of its own, and nothing gets accomplished while I am sitting here! Quickly, though, I have to tell you that the other day, I drove the Jeep for the first time! It was a lot of fun. (Chris had needed the van...so I got to take the Jeep!)

Here is a (quite silly) picture of me...*in* the Jeep, after driving it. I am on the phone with Chris, in this photo. He was calling me to make sure I had arrived at my destination safely (not for *my* benefit...but because he was worried about his *Jeep*!! ;)

So, now I am really going...lots on my to-do list today! **Including taking my affidavits and homeschooling objects to our school district...nothing like leaving it till the last minute, eh?**

Glad you stopped by. I know the post started out serious and heart-felt...but I hope you, at least, enjoyed the photos I shared! :)

Kindly,

Katy

Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 

1 Peter 1:2b

"Whatever with the past has gone...

...The best is always yet to come!"

~Lucy Larcom

Today, my *baby* sister turns 28! I have been so blessed to have lived most of my life with a sister (as there are only a couple years that separate us). We had fun when we were young....riding bicycles (on the road and in the garage), playing dolls and legos, building towns with lincoln logs, playing *hair salon* in the bathroom (and talking extra loud so we didn't hear the scary music of the television show "Unsolved Mysteries" that mom and dad would be watching in the living room), playing catch or badminton out in the yard, flashlight tag with the neighbors, uncontrollable laughing episodes (where, try as we might, we couldn't stop!)...and the list goes on! The memories are too many to count.

Then, as the high school years rolled in, a seemingly great *divide* came between us. We lost our close friendship and basically, went our own ways for a while. It saddens me, the years we lost. Not that we *never* got along...but our immature personalities could tend to clash.

Now, all is right again with the world, as my sister and I are both married and have children. We talk often and *enjoy* those conversations! We share our joys and sorrows with each other. Of course, we both take everything to our husbands first...as they each are our best friends...but it is nice to be able to confide in my sister as well. It's a beautiful thing to share in together. 

Devon, Aunt Ginny and Me

Devon,

I am so thankful for *you*. Honestly, there isn't a time in my life that I don't remember you in it. Those first two years of life (as blissful as they may have seemed at the time) were nothing special compared to all the years afterwards. God blessed me with a sister. It was always nice to have a friend to play and laugh with (not to mention, share the chores with! ;)!

You are a wonderful wife and mother. Cory and Eloise are blessed to have you! My greatest wish, now, is that you lived a smidge closer (or just next door..that would be **great**!). I am so grateful that you gave me my first niece!!! What a treasure she is! I look forward to the years to come...growing and maturing as women, wives and mothers. But, although I look *forward* to those times...I will also enjoy and be thankful for the here-and-now...for it is all we have. Each moment, a gift.

I hope you enjoy your birthday...spending it with Cory and El. I look forward to celebrating the gift of *you* tomorrow, when we all get together! Thank-you for being my sister....thank-you for being my friend! Love you *so* much!

Lovingly,
Katy

Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 

1 Peter 1:2b

"The Christian home is...

...the Master's workshop where the process of character-molding is silently, lovingly, faithfully and successfully carried on."

 ~Richard Monckton Milnes

Good Tuesday morning! I hope today finds you well and in good spirits! We, here in PA, are so thankful for the break from the heat. It's still quite warm, but not unbearably so. We have also been blessed with some much-needed rain! The garden was really thirsty. We water it (by hand) when necessary, but thankfully, the past couple of days, the rain has fallen in abundance. 

The days have been busy with many goings-on. In addition to the daily chores, housework, and outings, tomorrow is my sister's birthday ~ so I have been working on knitting her some dishcloths (at her request). The children have kept themselves busy, as well! They help out around our home...and then play till they drop! Even in the heat, they would ride bikes and swing and run until they came in...red faces and all! Then it would be time to retreat to my bedroom with the a/c for a time of playing legos, napping and reading Farmer Boy.

 At this moment, as I type, they are all upstairs playing *cafe*. Oh...wait...here they come...they have decided to go *outside* to play for a bit! The joys of childhood! Madelyn made cookies a bit earlier today. They are cooling on the rack and the boys have each enjoyed one, already! I have clothes in the washer that, as soon as they are "washed", will be coming with me on a trip to the clothesline...where they will enjoy a luxurious stay...hanging around in the sunshine and breeze of this beautiful day! I'm not sure what I will make for lunch today...Chris took the leftovers from last night's supper (homemade slow cooker veggie beef soup) for his lunch, at work. Maybe something simple...sandwiches or eggs. 

My three, fun-loving, kind-hearted, energy-filled children...

My sister in love is a beautician. She taught me how to twist Madelyn's hair on the sides. This was my first attempt. It didn't turn out as *perfect* as I would have liked it....but cute, nonetheless!

Wrestling and laughter!

Herbs, growing in my kitchen (cilantro, oregano and basil)...

Making biscuits...

The boys, at my mom's...

Friends of ours invited us (and other friends) to a pizza party at their home, this past weekend. We had such a great time at the last picnic we attended, that we were happy to go to this one, as well! The children were so excited when Rob let them drive their go-cart!

Xavier...

Madelyn...

Jaxson...

Of course, Chris had to take a turn! :)

The *other* Chris of the group, driving the go-cart with his son...

The children also got to take rides in the Ranger, which was great fun for them!

Chris, Chris and Sean... chattering away (and they say us *women* are the talkers!)...

A few of the children, jumping on the trampoline!

As I uploaded the pictures from the time of fellowship with our good friends, I realized that I don't have photos of us girls. We *were* there...really, we were! ;) 

Well, it sounds as though the washer is done "washing". I think it's time for me to wrap it up, for now. :) I hope *you* enjoy *your* day! Thanks for visiting!

Warmly,

Katy

Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 

1 Peter 1:2b

"My blanket....

...I can't be without it!" 

~Linus van Pelt (from Peanuts)

Jaxson is five and still has a blanky....and I have no intentions of breaking him from it (at least, not yet). He has loved his blanky for some time now. He sleeps with it and carries it around. (Although, it is kept at home...it isn't something he takes places with him).

The beautiful blanket you see in these pictures is *not* Jax's original. His first blanky was basically in shreds....he had loved it fiercely and, over time, it began falling apart, bit-by-bit. My mom offered to take his old one away and to make him a new one...but he still *wanted* his old one. It was his security...he loved to smell it and hug it. It's been washed numerous times...but still has a *smell* to it he so loves. In the spirit of compromise, my mom took his blanky and sewed it into a new one!

 Between these layers of "buggy blanket" (as it has VW bugs on it...a Jaxson favorite)...is his old, much-loved, much-hugged blanky. My mom was careful to sew it in there. She sewed it at my sister's house...while I snuggled Eloise (lucky me!). Before sewing it up to finish, my mom showed Jaxson the edge...so he could see that the old blanky was, indeed, in the middle of the freshly-sewn blanky! This reassured him that it wasn't a *new* blanky...but just a transformation of the *old* one! :)

Jaxson just loves it. Since coming home (from Devon's) yesterday...he hasn't parted with it. He woke this morning, wiping sleep from his eyes as he plodded into the living room, blanky in hand. He climbed up in the chair and dozed back into dream-land, covered with his blanky, despite the fact that it was over 80* in here! If you are reading this, Mom, thanks so much! It's just great! :) 

It's hot here...92* outside...and inside, the house is sizzling at 88*! We have the fans going, which helps....and we may retreat to my bedroom at some point (where there is a little a/c). Because of the heat (and my horrible tendency to get terrible heat-headaches), we are taking it easy today...light cleaning, knitting, reading, watching movies and such. I hope you're finding ways to beat this heat! 

Kindly,

Katy

Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 

1 Peter 1:2b

"Then followed that beautiful season....Summer...

 ...Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood."
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

It's hot here. I think it's hot *everywhere*! I suppose this is to be expected of the summer (although, without *wishing* time away, I am definitely looking forward to fall!). Today, I have some summer-time photos to share!

In the kitchen...

Some knitting projects...

The basket of much-used doilies, table runners etc...

 Laundry, always gracing my clotheslines on nice days...

Chris, after work most days, is busy on the garage roof. He is attaching steel sheets to it, to protect the wood beams that are being wettened in the rain due to a leaky roof. He is working hard and doing a great job. He is about halfway done! :)

 Hot summer days end up with evenings spent in the neighbor's pool. There goes Xavier-the-Fish!

 Dinner, one evening...angel hair spaghetti (our favorite) with my homemade canned sauce and wheat bread (my wheat bread loaves collapsed while baking...I never have much luck with wheat flour!)...

X, outside, getting water for the chickens...

 On hot days, we keep the curtains down...it helps keep some of the sun out! They look pretty when the fan is blowing a bit of a breeze and they *dance*...

For supper, tonight, I made Sausage Gravy and Biscuits. Although, I used homemade buttermilk biscuits (rather than from a can) and fresh, loose sausage. It turned out really delicious and quickly became a family favorite!

The table, set for supper...

Today was grocery day...so, after doing some menu planning and grocery list making, off we headed, this morning! I must admit, I think I lingered a bit, in the grocery store, as the temperature in there was just perfect! Hanging laundry out, today, was a draining chore...as water dripped from every pore in  my body! **My water bottle is my best friend during the summer days!** In order to be out of the heat for a bit, I spent time in my bedroom (which we do have AC going in) and changed the bedding as well as cleaned out the linen closet (it needed a good tidying). The children enjoyed some swimming today...which helped them cool down immensely! What have you been doing to beat-the-heat? :) 

I hope you are enjoying your days...each one. I'm so glad you stopped by...please do say *hello*. It's always great to hear from you! 

Warmly,

Katy

Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
1 Peter 1:2b