September 1

Bear in Noni's water fountain. 

It's September. Already. That means Autumn is coming (granted...it comes a lot later around here, but it gets here eventually). I breathe a sigh of relief just thinking about it. I'm so looking forward to cool, crisp air, gray skies and rain, rain, rain. We didn't get near enough rain last winter.

I know...some people think it's weird. But I can't help it..I love the rain. Always have.

Today is a bonus day off...and I'm grateful for it. I think we should switch to a four day work week across the board. When I was a counselor in a group home I worked four, ten hour shifts then had three days off. It was great. One day to work, one day to play, one day to rest. And when it was time to return to work, I was ready. I don't suppose I could convince our entire society to switch?

So on this bonus day you will find me preparing food for this week's meals, doing a bit of laundry, blogging, demanding a few shows that I missed last week and maybe watching a movie. It's a good day to stay inside as it's supposed to hit 100 degrees. Bleh.

I actually made a loose menu plan for this coming week. I am finally planning meals, just not saying what day I'll make them. (Ha! I'm getting closer!) There will be crock pot ribs, kielbasa and fried potatoes, pastrami paninis and oven baked tacos.

I did a big grocery shop with a friend yesterday and as I crammed even more food into my already full upright freezer I realized that next week's menu plan needs to use up what we already have. Well, next week's menu, and the week after that, and the week after that, and maybe even the week after that! I tend to stock up on meat when it's on sale. So let's just say, I've got plenty to choose from.

And just out of curiosity, do you ever grocery shop with a friend? I gotta tell ya, it sure takes the drudgery out of that chore. I shop with a friend periodically and I really like it. It's a good way to multi-task...time with a friend and getting your chores done. It's even more fun if you throw in a lunch date or grab a coffee along the way.

Anyway...that's about all I got for right now...gonna make the most of my bonus day. I thought to maybe head out of town for the day, do something fun, but the idea of fighting traffic and crowds didn't appeal to me. I'm not big on doing big things on big weekends. I'd rather do something big when nobody else is. Such a party pooper, I know.

Not to mention, it's hot. I though a hike would be fun, or a canoe ride or something outdoors. But...it's just too dang hot. So...staying home and cooking and scrubbing it is. Doesn't that sound so much better?!

Enjoy your Labor Day...xo

she gave a girl some figs.

My friend and coworker brought this girl some figs last week. I brought them home and let them sit almost too long before eating them. But when I cut them open and ate them...they were delicious. Perfectly ripe and sweet. And so, so good.

Would you believe I'd never even tried a fig until I was about 25? I lived in this little ramshackle apartment out in the country. It was funky, but I loved it. Noni came out to my place one day and looked at this ugly tree in my front yard and said, "You have a fig tree? I love figs!"

I didn't even know what a fig was, let alone what a fig tree looked like. But there it was, a gnarled fig tree right next to my parking spot. Noni made me promise to let her know when the figs began turning purple.

A few months later the figs began to turn purple so I picked a bunch, took a drive to Noni's and she enlightened me to the goodness of the fig. From that moment on...I loved them, too.

If you've never eaten a fig and you think you want to give it a try just make sure that the figs are very ripe, almost too ripe. And you can eat the skin, or not. I do not. Not that I wouldn't. I guess I don't because Noni didn't.

We went to a bible study one night years ago and the hostess made figs stuffed with goat cheese, drizzled with honey and sprinkled with chopped pistachios. Oh my...are you kidding me? They were amazing.

My coworker brought more figs in to work yesterday and I shamelessly grabbed (more than) my share. They are ripening on my kitchen island as we speak. Not everyone at work was excited about the figs...most of them went for the tomatoes and peppers and cucumbers that she brought instead of the figs. Apparently, figs are one of those things you either love or you don't.

I happen to love them...yes, because they taste delicious, but also because they make me think of Noni.

Oh, and I found some recipes on Pinterest that look awfully good...

Fig jam.
Fig jam on a sandwich with bacon and brie? Yes please.
And who doesn't like a fig newton?
How about this wedding cake just because it is beautiful (scroll down).

friendship.

coffee with my friend.

I am blessed with some really great friendships. Old friends. New friends. Friends that are also family.

I have friends that I speak to almost daily. And friends that I can see once every two years and it seems as if we've spoken daily as we don't miss a beat.

I have friends that have known me since I first discovered shimmery light blue eyeliner. And friends that can't imagine I ever would have chosen to wear it! (Hey. I was 14. What do you expect? Besides, it was a good compliment to my Bonne Bell lip smacker.)

I have friends that "knew me when". And friends whose jaws drop hearing stories about "when". (And a few of them even overlap.)

I have friends that I met at school, church, work, through a friend and through the internet.

I have friends that I can be myself with...completely. And there is no judgment. Maybe a few winces or weird looks now and then. But no judgment. And I am grateful for that.

I count my blessings daily when I think about the people that I am surrounded by. I count my blessings that at any given time I can call on any of them and I know that they will be there for me. And I, them. In a heartbeat.

Friendship takes work...and time...and the willingness to be vulnerable, and real.

I am grateful for all the wonderful people in my life that I call friend...without them I'd be lost.

...peaches for free

On Friday afternoon I put a shout out on Facebook inquiring about our local peach orchard, "Does anyone know if Brazelton's has peaches yet?"

Well, nobody knew if Brazelton's had peaches yet but a sweet friend did offer as many peaches as I could pick from her tree..."ripe and ready to pick". So I set some time aside on Saturday to swing by and pick peaches.

I meant to go peach picking early, in the cool of the morning...but seeing as how I can't seem to get a move on until around 10am these days, and "early" is a relative term...I got there in the afternoon. And yes, it was hot. But I picked a ton of peaches. And came home covered in dust, dried leaves, a few ants and sticky peach juice. I was a happy girl.

As I was leaving my friend warned me, "You need to do something with these today...they are ready to go." So I got to thinking about what I'd make. The verdict? Slicing some to freeze for later use, a peach dump cake that was so.dang.good (but, of course, I used fresh peaches because I had them and made my own syrup), and at Chris' request...peach jam.

I decided on freezer jam since I'd never made it before and (if I'm honest) I didn't want to heat the kitchen up with a hot, boiling canner. I peeled and pitted a ton of peaches, mashed them up, tossed them with lemon juice to stop the browning then mixed in a LOT of sugar. I let that sit while the pectin dissolved in boiling water then added that to the mix. According to the directions I stirred for three minutes then ladled the peach mixture into canning jars, leaving enough space for expansion in the freezer. The directions also said to let the jars sit for 24 hours at room temperature, then freeze. So, I did.

[Insert birds chirping.]

I was quite pleased with myself. I took Instagram pics and smiled a lot with a bounce in my step and made Chris come in and look at the glorious jars of peach jam goodness. I was feeling quite productive. Homemade peach jam was setting on the counter, a dump cake was baking in the oven...I was like Suzy Homemaker.

[Now insert the record scratching.]

Unfortunately, I'm sad to report my jam didn't turn out. After 24 hours, it didn't gel. It's still very runny. And I'm thinking that, yet again, my aversion to measuring things worked against me. I have a feeling I had too much peach mixture for the amount of pectin I added...and it just wasn't enough to get it to gel.

So...now I have runny peach juice with pulp in canning jars.

BUT, maybe all is not lost. Here's my plan...

I'm going to put the peaches in a saucepan and see if I can't boil it down a bit in hopes of thickening it up. Maybe even add some apple peel to add more natural pectin. Hopefully it works. If not? We have three (good size) jars of peach ice cream topping. Which wouldn't be a bad thing, I suppose.

Magnolia Blossom...

source

I met a 92 year old woman the other day. Her name is Margaret. "I go by Margaret, or Maggie, or Magnolia Blossom." (One of my best friends does elder care and Margaret is her newest "friend".)

I chose to call her Magnolia Blossom.

She's all of maybe 5'2", maybe, and with a personality a mile high. She had a smile in her eyes and determination in her step.

She had interesting stories to tell, of growing up with 13 siblings, of marrying a pilot at the age of 18, of moving to Japan and travelling "two weeks by ship just to be with him", even being hit on by Bob Hope while on board. She has a very cool photo to prove it. Apparently she was wearing a sheer blouse that you could see through to her slip and he turned to her and said in a "cheeky" voice, "How the hell are ya?" Can you imagine?

She talked about how she raised two boys but always wondered why God never gave her a girl.

She talked of living a wonderful life with her husband, the pilot...until "he got sick and up and left me...I went crazy for a while after that...I just couldn't believe he was gone." This is the only time the smile in her eyes faded.

We visited in her living room, frames full of family portraits, walls full of painting after painting, most her own originals...a pagoda, red geraniums, bowls of fruit, a wind mill, a Peruvian king (this was her favorite...my friend loved the bowl of fruit...and I was partial to the geraniums). She was incredibly talented.

When asked to play us a tune on her piano she replied, "Oh I haven't played in a hundred years...but let's see what we can do."

And she played...and then she sang...and it was wonderful...and I wondered why I wasn't filming her, documenting this beautiful human beings zest for life. I wondered if her grandchildren know how amazing she is. I wondered if they realize what a treasure she is. I wondered if they had footage of her singing and playing a song on the piano from a memory that was slowly fading. (And I wondered why I didn't film my own grandparent's when I had the chance. Note to self: seize the moment. Magnolia would have.)

Then my friend and I played a sorry rendition of Heart and Soul and Magnolia danced and clapped, smiling as though she thought we might actually have known what we were doing.

Margaret continued to tell her incredible stories...and told them again, and again...over and over and over. And each time she told the story about living in Japan in a "27 room mansion with 7 servants...can you imagine?" she told it just as she told all of the other stories...verbatim and with just as much gusto and amazement as the time before.

The thing about Magnolia is that she loved her life. All of it. Or at least all that she was able to remember. She loved her husband. She was happy. And her joy was contagious.

She made me smile. She made me happy. She made me miss my grandparents.

Thank you for the nice visit, Magnolia. I hope to see you soon.

"You called me Magnolia. I haven't been called Magnolia in a long time. My husband called me Magnolia Blossom. He was a pilot. We lived in Japan for three tours. It was wonderful. We lived in a 27 room mansion with 7 servants. Can you imagine? I'll be 92 in March. I don't even need glasses...or a cane. My neighbor, she needs a cane! But I'm doing great! And I'll be 92 in March, can you imagine?"

Yes, Magnolia Blossom, I can. And I can only hope to be as happy and content with my life as you when I am almost 92.

you are valuable.



succulent clippings from my mom and dad's garden.


You are valuable. I just wanted you to know that.

You are valuable and you are worth it. You are beautiful...and creative...and smart...and worthy.

YOU are enough.

My friend sent me this link yesterday (thank you, again, K)...such beautiful words to live by...and to know...and believe.

Please go read it. I know you won't be sorry.

And never, ever forget...that you are valuable.

today's laundry list...

Betty wants to know if you've signed up for the GIVEAWAY yet? No?
Well, what are you waiting for?! Go here for your chance to WIN!
(This picture makes me laugh every time I look at it.)

Welp, it's Thursday. Starting tomorrow the boys are off for the next two weeks...Spring Break. (Remember when it used to be called Easter Vacation?) It'll be nice to let them sleep in.

I have been busy lately...busy making some changes here at Give a Girl a Fig. As soon as I'm done I'll give you the Grand Tour.

I've come across some new things that I wanted to share with you.

Have you heard of Mad Hungry? It's my new favorite cooking show hosted by Lucinda Scala Quinn. She's down to earth; she makes good, easy, healthy recipes; she's got sons; she wears cute tops. And just the other day she talked about home remedies...simple ones like ginger and chicken soup...the usuals. She was instantly my new favorite. I appreciate her outlook...

I've mentioned a time or two...I love to make things. Always have. Always will. Years ago I was very involved in online art groups...but stepped away from them for years. Well...a few weeks back I was invited to do an art project with my friend Lelainia. She reminded me of an art exchange site called Swap-bot. Have you heard of it? I'm enjoying it so far...you have to be selective in the swaps you choose. But so far I've had good experiences.

My friend Sarah recently started her own blog and a few weeks ago she asked me to write a guest post!  So I did...but then I forgot to link up! (Sorry Sarah!) Pay her a visit...let her know you came by.

Hmmm...what else?

Oh! I thought of one more thing...wanna win ANOTHER giveaway?! My friend Amy is giving away a book, Sourdough from A to Z. If you want a chance to win head on over and leave a comment!

I guess that's it...for now. I'm sure I'll think of something else later...it's how my mind is working today...feeling a bit scattered...and chatty!

And don't forget to sign up for the GIVEAWAY...the winner will be chosen tomorrow!!

100! Let's celebrate with another GIVEAWAY!

Well look at that...I recently hit 100 Followers

here at Give a Girl a Fig. I am so excited!

Now, I realize that in comparison to some others...100 doesn't seem like much. But...I'm not into comparing myself to others (anymore...ha) so for me...and for this blog...100 people taking time to visit now and then is a BIG deal.

And I appreciate it. Very much.

thank you.

So I don't know about YOU...but I think this seems like a good time for a celebration! And to celebrate...I'd like to have another GIVEAWAY!

First in the prize pack is this book...The Quick-Fix Home Organizer. I can always use help with organizing. And even better if it's QUICK!

Second is a CD titled FREEDOM. It's a 3-CD pack full of amazing songs from various worship artists. The proceeds go to International Justice Mission to fight  human trafficking. Human trafficking is...hmmm....there really isn't a word that can describe it well enough...at least not a word that I can use here. I know God has laid it on my heart to do something...in some way...to help those trapped in sexual slavery. More on that in the future...

Thirdly...I will toss in a few extras!

So whaddya think? Wanna join in the celebration?! You do? Great! Just leave a comment and you will automatically be entered in the GIVEAWAY. And if you tell others about the GIVEAWAY in some form or another...blog or facebook or telephone (ha!)...just let me know in another post and you can be entered to win again! The winner will be chosen this Friday, April 8th...thank you again and good luck!

your kind comments...

I've been wanting to write about comments here for quite some time. I LOVE COMMENTS. I love hearing from the wonderful people that take time out of their days to stop by and see me...to read my blog...to share their lives with me...to let me know I'm not alone. I don't always comment back to you...but that does not mean that I don't read your comments or don't appreciate them. I do. SO much. I don't know why it is...but some of your comments allow me to respond in the form of email. And...some don't. I have no idea what the difference is between the two...maybe your Google preferences? I don't know...

What I DO know is that I want YOU to know that I love receiving your comments...I read every one...and I respond when I am able. And can I just say...if you have a specific question you want to ask me, feel free to email me directly. My email address is on the right hand sidebar. I will gladly respond...

Thank you for stopping by...and for leaving me encouraging and kind comments. You inspire me to continue writing and sharing...thank you.

xoxo

one thing leads to another...aka scattered thoughts.

oats in a thrifted jar...no seal...parchment paper seems to work.



I am finally coming to terms with this season of Solitude that I am in. It's taking me a while to get past the guilt of not doing...in whatever form that may take...work, ministry, running here and there...busy-ness essentially. Been there, done that. It's time to slow things down. And breathe. Be quiet. Listen. It's necessary. And not easy.  But being alone (click that link...don't mistake being alone for being lonely. I'm not lonely...at all. Come to think of it...I don't know that I experience loneliness. I quite enjoy being alone...) has led to some interesting revelations.

Solitude...and quiet...has lead to some good things. One of them being my list of goals. And one of those goals being trying my hand at Yoga. I am loving it. And I like how this article describes it...slow, no pain, no pressure...just slow and deliberate movements that feel really, really good. Who knew I'd enjoy it so much?

Something else I've been enjoying is Miso. So good...and so good for you. I warm a little chicken broth diluted with a bit of water and add in a slice or two of fresh ginger. When it's heated through I pour it into a mug and add a teaspoon of Genmai Miso (soy and brown rice), stir to dissolve and sip away while checking email. SO good. Matter of fact, I had a little stomach thing going on last week. I made myself a mug of miso and the stomach trouble disappeared. Coincidence? Maybe. But...maybe not!

A blog friend of mine, Mavis, has been sharing her adventures in amazing coupon shopping on her blog, 100 Dollars a Month. You would not believe the deals she gets! It's amazing. I am so impressed as coupon clipping and I don't get along. I thought I had the perfect money making coupon deal planned out yesterday for CVS...the way I figured it I should have come out 11 cents in the black. Instead? I spent $25 and have NO IDEA where I went wrong. Dangit! Anyway...Mavis has created a cute Coupon Purse to help you organize your coupons while looking stylish and hip at the same time. Wanna win one? Go here!

I watched Ellen Foster this weekend. I got the DVD at the library...for FREE. Have I mentioned recently how much I LOVE the library? No? Well...let me just say, I LOVE THE LIBRARY.

I also watched 99 Balloons: The Story of Baby Eliot again this morning. I cry...hard...to the point of making my throat hurt from holding back the sobs, every time I watch it. So sweet...and brings back memories of a friend of mine whose baby girl, Elora, was also born with Trisomy 18 several years back. Sadly, Elora did not get to experience life here on earth...Jesus took her home just before she entered the world during delivery. She was beautiful.

Amazing the blessings we are allowed to experience when we're paying attention...

 

OK...well...yoga is done, miso has been sipped, blog has been updated. Now...beds need to be made, dinners need to be planned, chickens need to be fed, groceries need picking up. The day must go on...and the solitude enjoyed.

Remembering to breathe...are you?

The Boutique.



the main display table in the living room

  The Holiday Boutique was on Saturday...and it was so much fun! And it was also a success! My aunt's house was completely transformed into a true boutique...it was great.
There were about a dozen of us who participated and there was a wide variety of items for sale...vintage finds like thimble shaped shot glasses, beautiful floral dessert plates, silver salt and pepper shakers, beautiful dish sets...and more. Very cool stuff...it was hard not to buy, buy, buy!

We also had handmade items...ornaments, hand knit wash cloths, adorable appliqued onesies, homemade dog treats, lots and lots of yummy baked goods, handmade wreaths, adorable sock monkeys, quilts...and more! 

We had a steady stream of visitors from start to finish. We mulled some delicious apple cider...we had Christmas music playing in the background...there was lots of laughter...and lots of SHOPPING!

baked goods beautifully displayed on the island

 

ornaments, glitzy wreaths (made by my aunt), glassware and
 rustic snowmen (made by yours truly...)



vintage-like glitter ornaments...one of my offerings.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Come-a-Calling...my mom made
these adorable little Christmas mice...and my
friend Sue took them home as a pair!



My Aunt Lisa made this sweet little mouse sitting
in a snowball...isn't he darling?

You might recognize this young lady...it's a
Mimi Angel complete with wings and a halo!



Appliqued onesies and fancy tutus...so stinkin' cute.
My cousin made these sweet little numbers and
they are adorable.


And would you believe...it was pouring down rain! It rained like crazy when I arrived in the morning...just in time to unload my wares. And then...it POURED in the evening, complete with thunder and lightning, just in time to load our cars and go home!! But that was OK...what's a little water?

Thank you to my Aunt Lisa for opening up her home for this endeavor. And I'd like to extend a HUGE thank you to my uncle D...poor guy was misplaced for about three days while his house was torn up and transformed into the Holiday Boutique extravaganza. But, being the amazingly good sport that he is...he made the best of it! (Thanks, D!)

It's a good Saturday...

Nowhere to be this morning...no papers to write...no games to go to...no appointments or meetings or functions. Just me...a cup of coffee...and a cool, breezy Saturday morning. I'm happy.

So I'm sitting here sipping my coffee and working up the gumption to go out and get my new veggie plants into the ground. I planted a bunch of seeds a while back but then it began to rain, a lot...and none of them came up. Not one. I'm assuming they rotted from too much moisture? So no zucchini, no cucumber and no sunflowers. The only things that came up from that planting were the nasturtiums. And they're doing great! Not to mention the four tomatoes and five peppers I planted a long while ago. They've hung in there...thank goodness.

Today I need to plant three zucchini (yes, I am crazy, thankyouverymuch), three cucumber, a half flat of marigolds, some chives, sage, thyme, lemon thyme and lemon balm. Then I'll plant some seeds for the beans and the lettuce. Should be a nice little garden one of these days.

Later this afternoon I'm meeting a long-time friend for lunch. She moved away to Reno a few years back and we try to get together when she comes to town to visit her daughter. Today we'll meet for a delicious salad at our favorite local Italian restaurant. Good food and lots of conversation with an old friend...sounds like a nice afternoon.

Until then...I will finish up my many loads of camp laundry! I'm almost done!

What have YOU got going on today? Make it fun!

a good day...

Happy Belated Mother's Day! I hope yours was as nice as mine. I actually had the Mother's Day weekend...

Our celebration started Saturday with a barbecue at my brother's. Man...do we put together a good buffet! Would you believe I forgot my camera? What a dummy. But...if I hadn't forgotten my camera you'd see a picture of a giant platter of perfectly grilled teriyaki beef skewers, a giant bowl of fried rice with lots of bacon and green onions, a big bowl of strawberry salad with mixed greens and champagne vinaigrette, fresh green beans and an abundance of garlic bread.

Oh my...we ate very well. And were all stuffed to the gills...but somehow made room for strawberry shortcake! What? Yep...strawberry shortcake with homemade shortcakes! Yum. Mom made them...and they were delicious!

After dinner we all crammed on the sofas to watch Avatar in Blueray on my brother's big screen. After a while, because we're all getting old, we were dozing off and decided to head home. Of course the kids were wide awake...but us oldies were done for the day.

OK...so that was Saturday. Not even Mother's Day yet and already we've celebrated very well. I woke up Sunday morning to a pile of cards, a box of Mike and Ike's (one of my favorites), a Starbucks gift card from the boys and a pedicure gift certificate from Chris! Nice! So sweet...and the cards were so nice. Funny...sappy...lovey dovey...perfect.

We headed off to church which was nice. Our pastor gave a nice sermon about mom's...and then gave all the mom's a gift! It was a cute notepad, a bookmark and a piece of chocolate in a gold box. Don't tell anyone, but I bought the notepads with my discount at the book store! I'm friends with our new pastor's wife so she popped in to the store last week and we picked out some nice gifts to give to the ladies. She added the chocolate as a surprise...so that was nice!

We ended up socializing at church for a long while...it was good. I was the one doing most of the socializing...Chris and the boys went to the car and Chris let Seth drive for a while. What?!! I about fell over when I saw my son drive past the church...in MY car...wasn't he just born last week?

Anyway...we finally left church and headed to our favorite Mexican food restaurant for some lunch. We ate way too many chips and salsa so we all had enough leftovers for dinner, too! Perfect! I hadn't planned anything for dinner anyway! Instead, I took a nap! All in all, it was a really good weekend. Lots of fun...lots of family...lots of friends...even a little rain, I believe it was just for me.

this morning.

Today is Thursday. My Friday at the book store. The weeks are flying by so fast, aren't they? I can't keep up. It's like the first of the month gets here...and I start thinking about the bills to pay and such...and next thing I know it's the 6th! How does that happen? Is it just me?

I had a coffee date set for 9am but the friend I was to meet (our new pastor's wife) had to go to Sacramento to be with her daughter in law who is in labor! Woohoo! Keep Shannon in your prayers today...this is her first baby and you know how those first labors can be. Loooong. My first was 32 hours from start to finish...yikes. And I did it again! What's with us crazy moms? That's a God given gift...the ability to forget what we just went through so we'll do it again...and again and again in some cases!

Since I'm finding myself with a bit of extra time this morning. I think I'll use it to do homework. I have to watch a documentary and write a minimum 2-page paper about it. That's a weekly thing with online courses...a paper. I don't have any trouble coming up with two pages of words (obviously, as you can see, I tend to be a bit chatty...ahem) but I do have trouble formatting my dang citation page! And I even bought a special program to help me DO it. I have got to figure that out...it's costing me points on my papers. So far I'm still maintaining an A...thank goodness. But I'm right on the border...so I need to step up my game!

I can't even believe that I'm in Week 6 of my 9 Week class. See what I mean about time flying? Seriously. That means I'm almost done with my second class!! Woohoo! I really need to take two classes per term...but I am worried that I won't be able to keep up. School is a lot of work! My mom says if I didn't blog I'd have plenty of time...which is true in some aspects. If I didn't READ so many blogs I'd have the time...and this is something I need to consider. Too bad I don't get class credit for blogging...hmmm, I may have to look into this. Not a bad idea...

Anyway...I'll figure it out. Time management...it's never been my strong suit.

Even still, today is off to a good start. It's cool and breezy. It's sunny and bright. It's calm and quiet...the only sounds I hear are the wind blowing through the leaves of the maple in my front yard and the soft purr of sweet Rosie. Definitely off to a good start...

The art fair.

Hi! I'm sorry it's taken so long to report about the art fair. What a whirlwind BUSY weekend! As a matter of fact...all of last week is a blur! But...everything worked out in the end and everything got done. Well, except for a load of whites so everyone had to scrounge around for socks Monday morning. But other than that...

We reported for our booth space at a little before 8am on Saturday morning with our cars jam packed with stuff. We set up the canopy, two tables for display and a card table as a "register" area. We used canvas drop cloths to cover the sides of the canopy as well as the display tables. It gave the booth a nice neutral and casual backdrop. As we were setting up and hanging pictures and standing easels, we realized that we probably could have had our own booths! We were pretty cozy in that little space!

My friend Chris could have had his own booth for sure. He has a TON of inventory that he's amassed over the past few years. Me? Umm...I could have. But it would have been a little sparse. I don't have a lot of inventory, especially larger pieces, as I am just getting started in this endeavor. However, I met a nice gal first thing in the morning...a fellow photographer named Jessica (who does amazing Polaroid transfers, by the way, and I forgot to BUY one!)...and she had her booth set up cute and she didn't have a TON of inventory. When I went down to visit her she said, "See? You could have your own booth." And she was right. I could have. Next time?

So once the booth was set up, a little before 10am, we were ready for business. And let me tell you, the place was hoppin'! There was a steady flow of people all.day.long. It was a beautiful day...sunny and warm with cool breezes. Perfect. (Except for the wind that picked up around 3 or so and had everyone running after business cards and holding on to their canopies for dear life!) So many friends and family came by to support us...I saw people I hadn't seen in years...and met some new people. All in all it was a good experience. I'll do it again...definitely.

Once all was said and done I came away with $100 profit that went directly into the Belgium Fund envelope. This doesn't include my initial investment of frames and mats. But it does include my booth fee and packaging materials.

Thank you for all of your encouragement and interest. I wish more of you could have been there...but it would have been a bit of a drive...so I understand. *wink* And I know you were there with me in spirit...which was almost as good!

Anyway...all in all it was good. But I have to say I would NOT have been able to do it without the help of several people. My mom first of all. Oh my goodness...she helped me with every aspect of getting my things ready. Frame selection..mat selection...photo selection...framing...all of the stuff that overwhelms me when I try to do it on my own. So...thank you, Mom!! You RULE!!

A thank you to my Dad who let me run by at the very last minute to borrow the card table and chairs. I literally called him from my cell phone to ask if I could borrow them and when he said yes I said, "Thanks! I'll be there in 30 seconds!" And I was. He loaded them in my car and off I went. Thanks Dad!

And a thank you to Aunt Lisa who loaned me drop cloths and cool display pieces. She left a variety of things on her dining table for me to choose from...I went by while she was at work and borrowed what I needed. So thank you Aunt Lisa!! The addition of your cool stuff helped make the booth look interesting! (And by the way...Ollie is a VERY good watch dog...ahem. I like his pointy teeth and deep guttural growl. As Jenna would say...NBD.)

Also a thank you to Chris and Pat, my friends who joined me in this endeavor. They are husband and wife and helped me immensely. Pat was our secretary...setting up our booth fees and information...making the calls and dropping off the money. Thank you, Pat! And Chris saved my life at the last minute when my glassine envelopes hadn't arrived. He happened to have two packs of the exact sizes I needed and let me buy them from him. Whew!! That was close!

Seriously...I could not have done this on my own. Wait, I take that back...I could have. But I'd have been sitting on the ground, Indian style, holding down a half assembled canopy and selling my photos out of the envelopes they arrived in from the developer!

this is amazing...

Thank You!!

I got another Donation for my trip to Belgium.

Thank you SO very much my friend...I appreciate your support.

The donations I receive and the photos and note cards that I sell in the name of this ministry give me hope...and confirms that I am truly on the right track. I mean, I know I'm on the right track...but every once in a while that little voice says mean, discouraging things...and I wander into the land of doubt. So when someone comes along and lends support...it revives my hope...and my sureness of what I'm working toward.

Day by day...closer and closer...Belgium will be here sooner than I know!

* * * * * * * * * *

If you would like to make a Donation I have placed a Paypal Donate button in the left sidebar of my blog. All proceeds go toward sending me to Belgium in September on a ministry trip.

Read more about the ministry by clicking on the Belgium Project link, also in the top left sidebar of this blog.

Thank you...

Ever heard of a Blogging Bee?

Well, I hadn't either! Not until my friend Amy started one over at her blog, Homestead Revival.

Amy is a wealth of information when it comes to home keeping, clean living, organic food, making from scratch...and then some. Her blog is beautiful...her information is valuable...her spirit is sweet.

So here goes..a few posts that really struck home with me...my contribution to the patchwork of the Blogging Bee.

The Simple Wife talked about insecurity and trusting God earlier in the week and it really spoke right to me. Getting ready for Belgium, I'm already struggling with the same issues. But between her post and being more diligent about spending time with God each morning, I'm focusing more on what I can do through Him.

Rachel at Small Notebook posted about finding freedom in routine...mainly in the area of keeping a home. This is an area I struggle with...I just don't like to clean all.the.time. I wish I did! But I don't. Rachel talked about, among other things, taking two hours each Monday to give her house a once over...to just knock it out...get it done...get it over with. Now this is a "routine" I think I can adopt.

How about you? Care to share something valuable you learned? Visit Amy's blog...join the Bee. (It wasn't as confusing as I thought it was going to be!)

Off to a great start!

I want to send out a HUGE Thank You to those of you who have purchased my photo note cards in support of my trip to Belgium. Some of you purchased for yourself. And others have had giveaways on their blogs. And it is so wonderful and it warms my heart...

I am blown away by your support and generosity. Thank you SO MUCH.

I also want to extend another HUGE Thank You to those of you who have made donations to The Belgium Fund. I have to say, adding that Donate button wasn't easy for me. But I did it. And you responded. BIG TIME. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I can't say it enough...

Stay tuned for some new designs being added to the shop. There's more to come!

I want to share a recipe with you...

A few years ago we had a Chili Cook Off at our church. My sweet friend and "adopted" sister, Sandra, won the contest! She made what she calls Crock Pot Chili...and it is GOOD. Definitely worth the win! It's really tasty...it's really easy...it's really warm...and it's really popular around here! And I want to share it with you! Ready? Here it is...

Crock Pot Chili

1 lb. beef stew meat (I use a half pound...because I'm frugal...and it's really plenty)
1 medium onion - chopped (or if necessary, dried onion works well, too)
2 T. chili powder
2 cloves garlic or equivalent of garlic powder
1 Bay leaf
1 t. salt
1 t. Worcestershire sauce
1 t. oregano
1/2 t. cumin
16 oz. can tomato sauce
15 oz. can kidney beans
15 oz. can pinto beans
a dash of cayenne if you're feeling lucky punk!

In a skillet,saute the onion and lightly brown the beef. (I season the meat at this point with a little extra of the seasonings...you know, that whole "depth of flavor" thing.) Add canned ingredients, seasonings and cooked meat and onion mixture to the Crock Pot and stir to combine. Cook on high 2-3 hours or low 4-5. The flavors blend better when cooked for the longer amount of time...but either way it's really yummy.

Serves 6. OR 4 if two of them are hungry teenage boys with a helping leftover for lunch. I make a big ol' pan of cornbread to go with it and it is a delicious combination! Enjoy!

I put a pot of this together before we left for Ian's baseball game last night. I made some cornbread and set it aside. By the time we got home several hours later the chili was ready...the house smelled great...and we ate a delicious, warm meal after a cold night at the ball field!

Welcome...

I just want to take some time to welcome new "Followers", and to welcome some old friends (Hi Laurey!), and to say hello to my awesome family both near and far...and to say THANK YOU for taking time out of your day to stop by and see what's going on in my little corner of the world.

I love that you visit and I love when you comment! I read each and every one...and comment on the ones that allow me to. If I can't comment I will often find a way to visit your little corner of the world! I'm blessed to be in such good and beautiful company. Have a blessed day...xox