Good morning from Coffeeland.
Well, not really, I’ve only had one cup, but I believe it’s enough to help me to crank out a post this morning. I’ve been in a little funk and have tried to inspire myself to write a post but it just hasn’t happened. In fact, I even went back and read some old posts thinking I could find one to post as a “recycle” and it took me about two seconds to realize that I don’t enjoy going back and reading my blog. I’ve told you before that I have these constant mind battles, or shall I call them flesh battles, with myself over blogging. For some reason, I’ve pressed on through them all, maybe it’s my flesh? Maybe it’s not? Anyway, I came here to see if I could muster up a random post with some depth…
This is Raiger in her superhero cape. She saw me stretching this week, as in, leaning over and touching the ground because my legs feel like they may fall off due to exercise induced pain. Occasionally I find myself stopping what I’m doing and leaning over to touch the ground, it makes me feel like I’m good at Pilates, even though people who are good at Pilates grab their legs and wrap them around their heads. Anyway, she looked at me funny and wanted to know if I was pooping. No, Paige, I’m not pooping, I’m stretching. Kids are hilarious in case you didn’t know. Last night when I was reading them one of our new favorites Make Way for Ducklings, she wanted to know why I had hair in my nose and why my eyes were short. Well, I was looking for some depth to this post and I so far I’m not quite there.
I have a new motto in my kitchen: if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again! Please observe the 2nd attempt at Peppermint Patties in pictures…
Same recipe, new method… way easier! The little candy mold was $1.99 at Michael’s {and they have cute heart shaped ones at Walmart for $1.75} the only thing I wish I had done differently was to have purchased 2 or 3 molds instead of just one. I filled & froze, filled & froze, filled & froze… if I had 3 molds I could have just filled & froze once or twice. I filled the little mold, froze, then filled with peppermint filling and topped off with chocolate and then froze again for a few minutes and then they popped right out… beautiful and still delicious! So, if you want to try and haven’t yet… try this route it will save you time & heartache!
I also feel the need to report that my throw has greatly improved {my candle scent throw} not by any action of my own. If you remember, I told you the candles I made a few weeks ago had a terrible throw {as in you couldn’t smell them burning or not burning}. Guess what, they smell REALLY good now. Apparently when you use soy wax it can take up to 2 weeks for the candles to cure and the wax to fully absorb the oils. The only one that didn’t improve was the grapefruit one, I can burn if for hours and still not smell a thing, from what I’ve read the whole process can be very trial & error. Encouraged by the new found smell, this weekend I strapped on my denim jumper, braided my hair and laced up my boots, put on some primitive music and made a few more candles. My sister-in-law got the one above {Vanilla Coconut} for her birthday on Sunday and with it was a sticker that said don’t burn until Feb 18. It already smelled pretty good to me so hopefully in a couple weeks it will smell even better. I’m almost ready to give a tutorial on the matter, was really hoping for a candle maker to come out of the closet for me with some great professional tips but so far no one has ‘fessed up. Next week is teacher appreciation week and I foresee some apple shaped bowls waiting to be filled with apple scented wax.
I’ve had several emails recently {which have unfortunately gone unanswered, my apologies} regarding the quote that used to be at the top of my blog and I’d love to share it here again because it’s beautiful and encouraging from a book that has been a constant source of encouragement to me as I press on in my role as a stay at home mother, The quote is from page 3 of Sally Clarkson’s Mission of Motherhood.
“And the fundamental mission of motherhood now is the same as it always was: to nurture, protect, and instruct children, to create a home environment that enables them to learn and grow, to help them develop a heart for God and his purposes, and send them out into the world prepared to live both fully and meaningfully.”
I also love her quote towards the end of the book on page 193 that says,
“A wise woman has learned to imitate lots of other wise women; the creativity comes in adapting their ideas and her needs. I have gathered a wealth of ideas over the years by reading, watching people, copying the ideas of others, scaling them to the needs and ages of my children, husband, and friends. I have also learned a lot by experimenting along with my children. We have learned together, with lots of failures and successes– and a whole lot of fun.”
This one particularly strikes a chord with me, especially when it comes to blogs & creativity. While, as I mentioned above, I struggle sometimes with writing my own, I really like others. There are an endless number of wonderful resources out there and I find such encouragement from other blogs, even a simple picture will strike an idea in my mind and I’m thankful to have so much inspiration my fingertips. I find encouragement on how to be a better mother, wife, photographer, seamstress, and decorator. So many fuel my creative side but it’s also really easy to get lost in la la land and spend too much time looking for inspiration that my little ones are left alone while I am busy “looking” for things to do with them instead of actually doing things with them.
And just for kicks, one more {pg. 220} where she is speaking of the impact Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables has had on their family,
I believe it is the clear picture they present of a redemptive family where love and forgiveness are given in the midst of petty failures and frequent mistakes, where home is a secure haven in which to be comforted, encouraged, inspired, and trained.
Ahhh good stuff, good stuff!
Ok, this post is taking way longer than I ever intended for it to take, the kids woke early, we got off to preschool, I’ve been to Walmart for Magic Erasers & dryer sheets, now I’m back home and it still hasn’t been posted… so I will wrap up with this random tidbit of information.
It is 2011 and we now have caller ID & call waiting.
Next month makes 9 years of marriage and 9 years without caller ID or call waiting. I broke down this week and added them to our phone line. I was just going for call waiting then the customer service rep told me it would only be 60 cents more a month for call waiting so I got a little crazy and added it too. Now when our phone rings I run to it and watch with excitement to see who it is and then it takes everything within me to not answer by saying, “Hello, Erika!” or who ever’s number shows up, because you’re supposed to pretend like you don’t know who it is even though you really know who it is, right?
