Agnus Dei ~ Sung by a Child

Amazing! See if you can watch this w/o crying.

WORTHY IS THE LAMB !! AMEN !!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~#133~ 8/23/11

For Today . . .

Outside my window . . . lovely, sun-shiny day. Blue skies, gentle breezes, low humidity, high 70's-low 80's expected for today, singing little birds & cicada everywhere.

I am thinking . . . of all I need to do when I get off of here.

I am thankful for . . . my family & the wedding we'll be celebrating next year.

In the kitchen . . . Tuesday bread baking day; I'm considering making Sausage & Tortellini Soup ~ mmmm ~ haven't had that for a while.

I am wearing . . . jeans, sage Lakeside t-shirt.

I am creating . . . a peaceful Christ-centered home.

I am going . . . to take DD#2 to work, I will go to work in the late afternoon.

I am wondering . . . how much longer, Lord?

I am reading . . . Bible; the new issue of Country Sampler. :-)

I am hoping . . . that Maggie's (our little black dog) bladder stone is healed SOON.

I am looking forward to . . . family fun this weekend!

I am hearing . . . radio, DD#2 getting ready for work, typing fingers.

Around the house . . . more of my sunflowers are coming out! I'm so excited, especially about the deep red Moulin Rouge sunflowers.

One of my favorite things . . . singing praises to my Lord.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . family time, work, preparing for a weekend event. :-D

Pondering these words . . . "Accountability = shared discipleship." ~from Sunday's sermon.

Scripture thought . . . "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light . . . Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds & glorify God on the day He visits us . . . For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men." ~I Peter 2:9, 12, 15

Here is a picture thought I'm sharing with you . . .

More of my Moulin Rouge & yellow sunflowers are opening up; wish the picture was better.

Read 100's of other Daybooks at Peggy's Simple Womans Daybook!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Marmee-isms #6 ~ Be It Ever So Humble . . .

Meg was too tired for gossip, and went to bed, feeling as if she had been to a masquerade, and hadn't enjoyed herself as much as she expected. She was sick all the next day, and on Saturday went home, quite used up with her fortnight's fun [in the the wealthy home of Sally Moffit], and feeling that she had "sat in the lap of luxury" long enough.

"It doesn't seem pleasant to be quiet, and not have company manners on all the time. Home is a nice place, though it isn't splendid, "said Meg, looking about her with a restful expression, as she sat with her mother & Jo on the Sunday evening.

"I'm glad to hear you say so, dear, for I was afraid home would seem dull and poor to you, after your fine quarters," replied her Marmee, who had given her many anxious looks that day; for motherly eyes are quick to see any change in children's eyes."

Little Women ~ Chapter 9

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Pioneer Johnny Cakes

Feeling in that camping/outdoorsey-kinda-feeling today. Thought I'd share an old, old recipe made all the better with my homemade butter.

You will need:

1 c. yellow cornmeal
1 ts. sugar (raw preferred)
1 TB salt (I use sea salt or Real Salt)
1/2 c. cup water
bacon grease ~ for a treat, fry some maple flavored bacon & then fry the Johnny Cakes in the flavored grease. Mmmmm :-P

Directions:

~In a cast iron skillet, warm bacon grease while making the Johnny Cake mix
~In a medium bowl, w/a whisk, mix cornmeal, sugar & salt
~Add water & stir w/large spoon or spatula until it forms a paste
~Form paste into pattie & fry in melted bacon grease until they are golden brown
~Top w/butter & enjoy!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Finding THE Dress

Another mile-stone was met in our house-hold yesterday . . . wedding gown shopping w/DD#1. Oh my!

The rest of the dress MUST remain a mystery '-)

She showed DD#2 & I the gown she chose ~ lovely. She said, "I can't believe you're not crying your eyes out!" And even though I was a little misty, I was surprised as well.

But I was also surprised that I didn't cry at my own wedding. I came prepared w/tissue stuffed up my sleeve but I didn't use them. I was walking toward that handsome young man who was SINGING to me as I came down the isle!! (A closely kept secret that everyone knew but me.) The closest I came to crying was when my Daddy gave me away. Otherwise, I was excited & happy.

And I hope that's how our daughters will be on their special days.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Rosemary's Rules for Living Long & Healthy

Rosemary Gladstar is a wise, wise women when it comes to using herbs for healing & everyday health. In her book, "Herbal Recipe for Vibrant Health," she has some great recommendations for "living well in our elder years." I think this is great advice at any stage in life, so I thought I'd share them with you . . .

1) Eat sagely. Several small meals are better than 1 or w large ones. Eat foods as close to their natural state as possible; the fewer preservatives, the better.

2) Exercise wisely. Every day, move that body as thought you're a dancer moving to the smooth rhythm of time.

3) Sleep serenely. Nothing restores the body & the brain like a night of good sleep. Although the body is usually ready to go after only 4 to 5 hours of sleep, the brain requires at least 8 hours of sleep to be restored & revitalized.

4) Drink deeply. American are a nation of "underdrinkers" ~ at least when it comes to water. Drink at least a quart of clean, pure water every day. Remember, 80% of the human body is water; we need it inside & outside to survive. So drink up!

5) Breathe fully. It seems to work ~ breathing in slowly, filling my [Rosemary's] lungs, expanding down into my stomach, out to my arms & legs, holding the breath all the while, holding until I can feel my blood being oxygenated, then breathing out slowly, slowly ~ helps me feel both relaxed & energized.

Simple & effective. Sounds like great advice to me.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~#132~ 8/16/11

For Today . . .

Outside my window . . . lovely blue skies & sunshine. Cicadas coming out in scads, every morning there are so many more exo-skeletons hanging on the trees; I saw 2 in the process of hatching while taking Maggie on our morning stroll through the back yard. Love their sound.

I am thinking . . . that summer is winding down, fall is almost here. :-)

I am thankful . . . for Vanilla Biscotti coffee in the mornings!

In the kitchen . . . bread baking day; thinking of making Dirty Rice.

I am wearing . . . jeans, work t-shirt.

I am creating . . . a peaceful, Christ-centered home.

I am going . . . to take DD#2 to work, pick up the house a little, do a homeschool assessment, call my mom, go to work . . . & such is life.

I am wondering . . . what's next?

I am reading . . . Bible: Joel.

I am hoping . . . that our little Maggie (the dog) feels better soon. She has a bladder stone & will be on special food & meds for a month.

I am looking forward to . . . a weekend away.

I am hearing . . . radio, coffee-maker, DD#2 getting ready for work, Maggie barking.

Around the house . . . general pick up, laundry . . .

One of my favorite things . . . that my sweet hubby kisses me good-bye early every morning before he leaves for work.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . family time, wedding gown shopping w/DD#1, work, doing some more homeschool assessments . . .

Pondering these words . . . "Faith is taking Jesus Christ seriously." ~From Sunday's Sermon.

Scripture thought . . . "'Even now,' declares the LORD, 'return to Me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.' Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing . . . " ~Joel 2:12-14.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you . . .

Closer than brothers.

Enjoy 100's of other Daybooks at Peggy's Simple Woman's Daybook!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Marmee-isms #5 ~ Keepers of Hearts & Souls

"To outsiders, the 5 energetic women seemed to rule the house, & so they did in many things; but the quiet scholar, sitting among his books was still the head of the family, the household conscience, anchor, & comforter; for to him the busy, anxious women always turned in troublous times, finding him, in the truest sense of those sacred words, husband & father.

"The girls gave their hearts into their mother's keeping, their souls into their father's; & to both parents, who lived & labored so faithfully for them, they gave a love that grew with their growth, & bound them tenderly together by the sweetest tie which blesses life & outlives death."

Chapter 24

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Moulin Rouge Sunflowers

This year, I added sunflowers to my little front yard herb/kitchen garden. And I'm so glad b/c this was a terrible year for my little garden. :-/

1st of all, the chipmonks & shrews ate all of my garden seeds! Even the jalapeno pepper seeds! I can't help but hope that they had MASSIVE indigestion after that. But at least I still had my herbs ~ even my transplants of oregano & rosemary took a while to latch on this year & I was a little worried, but they are looking pretty good right now. Not huge, but doing well.

Then, since I had to go back to work last year & my mom's dementia is so much worse this summer, I have sadly let the weeds & wild grasses take over far more than I ever have before ~ to my shame. But the Lord is so good & He made sure that herbs can grow in the worst of conditions :-) so they have been successful regardless of what I have & haven't done this summer.

BUT . . . the real crown of my little garden is just now beginning to take bloom . . . literally. This year, I plant a whole row of sunflowers in front of our downstairs bedroom window row. I planted every-other-one yellow~red~yellow~red~yellow~red~yellow. YES! RED!

They're called Moulin Rouge & they bloom a red that is so deep it's almost black. They are gorgeous & my 1st one opened up yesterday!

There are several buds on all of the stems so I'm excited to see what the whole row will look like once they've all come out. I'll show you when it happens.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Holy Basil a.k.a. Tulsi

I love herbs. I enjoy & benefit from homemade, natural health care. I try to learn something useful about my own health care everyday &, as I am in my post-child-baring years (WOW! How did that happen?!), I am determined to get through it w/o medical intervention as much as possible.

Something that nearly anyone ~ woman or man ~ young or old ~ can benefit from is Holy Basil, also know as Tulsi. I'm sure many of you have heard of Tulsi teas, did you know that it was actually Holy Basil? I didn't, until I started studying herbs.

You can take Holy Basil in a capsule w/the crushed &/or freeze-dried herb inside or by making a tea.

Here are some of the great benefits of Holy Basil:

~reduces stress, depression & anxiety
~good for relaxation
~has been used in the treatment of cancer
~has been known to increase strength & endurance
~helps oxygen to be used more effectively by the body
~aids digestion
~helps the immune system
~helps w/blood circulation in the brain
~helps w/memory retention, focus & clarity of thought
~helps w/ADD & ADHD
~reduces pain
~helps wounds to heal faster
~may lower cholesterol
~lessens headaches
~widely known for balancing hormones
~treats inflammation
~treats colds, sore throats & coughs
~reduces fevers
~can be used by those suffering w/allergies & asthma
~helps arthritis pain
~relieves gas & stomach cramps
~is a powerful antioxidant
~is good for eye health
~use the tea as a gargle for dental health & to reduce bad breath
~use the tea on a clean cloth for insect bites & stings

So much from such a little plant. The Lord is so good to us.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><