Things I've learned in 2010

I have learned I do not have to use dryer sheets. If I dry the synthetic clothes and natural fibers separately, then there is no static cling! I can also hang up those few synthetic items and save on electricity. I learned I could fix a spray bottle with white vinegar and a little essential oil and spray into the dryer to help as a softener. Or add it to the rinse cycle of the washer. When I think of money wasted buying dryer sheets! Wow. Not counting the dryer sheets in the land fills and the chemicals released into my house from them!

I learned that I could make my own foaming soft soap from regular soft soap. I noticed on a soap container my mom bought that you add 1/10 liquid soap to 9/10s water and have foaming soft soap. So, I bought 2 foam soft soap bottles and now make my own. Another thing that made me realize this is that I bought the wrong product once when I meant to buy soft soap, I bought the foam one instead and it was mainly water. Just imagine how much money the manufacturers are making off us by us buying 9/10s water from them!

I learned I can lose those unwanted pounds by being careful what I eat. I realized I was the only person responsible for what went into my tummy. I did not reach my second goal, but my first goal was reached and has been maintained. It is hard with all our social eating, but I keep reminding myself that the end goal is more important than giving in ... most of the time!

I learned I can live without a microwave. Well, I still have it because it is in the shed, but I haven't used it much at all.

I learned I can make a blog! It has been almost a year now.

Why Jesus Came

Merry Christmas to each of you. I hope you have a blessed day with family and friends.

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2010/12/the-cross-in-christmas/

Cinnamon Rolls

An Adams' family tradition, for this Adams family, at least, is cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning. I started that so we could eat them while opening gifts and have breakfast later. If we got around to having breakfast. Usually, Christmas dinner was ready early because I put the turkey in too soon.
Sometimes, they were home made and sometimes 'pop-can' ones, but we had them each Christmas morning. I am glad our daughters try to carry on the tradition. Traditions have to start somewhere, right?
... home made ones are rising right now. This year, we are spending Christmas Eve with my mom and Christmas Day with his family, so I made them today, so we can enjoy them and save some for Christmas morning, also.

Wow, I actually got ambitious to get them done! What are some traditions your family does for Christmas?

Lunar Eclipse 2010

My husband and I set our alarm and woke to go outside and watch the nature show from 1:30 to 3:30 this morning. It was neat watching the moon as the shadow covered it. It was so bright at first, we could move around on the porch and yard just fine, but after it was covered, it was pitch black. The amazingly, when only a sliver of light appeared again, it was light enough to see. It was cold, in the 30's, but we figured we'd stayed out in colder weather to watch the northern lights in the far north!
And we almost missed it, because when the alarm went off, it was such peaceful music, we wanted to go back to sleep. Almost like a lullaby. :). Glad we got up anyway!

Butterfly Greeting Cards

Iron Butterflies

I found this link today. They are pretty and sold in sets. Of course, I like them because they are butterflies and Christian and the verses are written by my cousin. Just had to share.

That does not Compute

Computing can be a wonderful thing. Well, I don't know if I'd call it wonderful. But ... convenient ... fun ...adventurous ... aggravating .... tiresome ....


We recently updated to Windows 7. Which is a 64 bit. Which means many of our programs do not work with the update ... so that mean re-buying the ones we use a a lot and throwing out ones that no longer work (or giving them to people with older operating systems). We did this same thing a few years ago. I just know it is MS's way of selling more 'stuff'. They must get a percentage from all the other companies selling software. I think a computer nerd sits behind a screen .... bored ...coming up with new ways to do things ... and thinks, 'hey, I can do this little change and drive them all crazy! hehehehehe

Like when they changed File Manager to Windows Explorer ... not taking into consideration that there was already a Internet Explorer (or did they?) It took me forever to get used to that and I still call it file manager most of the time ... which is what it is, BTW, a file manager. Hello!!

Well, I think we almost have it how we want it again and I told my husband that this is the definite LAST time I go through this. I am too old to be jerked around by a bunch of young people designing new products to change the way things are done!!!! whew!!!!                      

My Website

As of Jan 2011, my website http://www.belindajo.com will be canceled. They raised their rates. I have not really seen that many books sold because of it. And I am too tired most of the time to mess with it, so we decided that could be one thing 'off my plate'.
Merry Christmas to you all.

My friend's letter excerpt

This is the item from my friend's letter. Her computer won't let her get to my blog to comment, so asked me to post it.
Take time to slow down and enjoy the season!! I am going ahead with my goal of being done with the busy-ness by the 14th. I did it last year and it was really nice. Most of the gifts are already wrapped, so it's time now to finish the cards and do some baking next week. Rush rush around now so you can rest and ponder the beauty and meaning of the Christmas holiday later on in the month. Go to a Christmas Cantata and get your mind off the worldly view of this holiday... see what Christmas is really all about. Watch a Charlie Brown Christmas - - yes, Linus quotes from Luke chapter 2 and puts things all in perspective!! Watch the Grinch - - Christmas really can come without ribbons, packages, boxes and bags!! Enjoy your December and celebrate!  Lisa

Enjoy the Season

I received a newsletter from a friend today. At the end, she encouraged us to finish all the 'chores' of the season early so we could enjoy the season. I thought it was neat. I try to do that each year, and limit what I do so I don't get overwhelmed.
I hope each of us enjoys the season and not only endure it as we rush around trying to do all that we think needs to be done.
Merry Christmas!

Need a Christmas Present for under $15?

Don't forget about my books! They can be ordered from Silent Word Ministries (it helps their ministry which makes me glad) or at most online bookstores ... or you local bookstore may order them.

Building our porch

It seems every time I try to start posting every day something comes up to keep me from it. But then, I am glad this item is coming up! One of the reasons we worked with the Census was to earn money for a front porch. It is becoming a reality. With friends and family pitching in to help, our dream is coming true and at a good speed! We sat on it yesterday! The trick is to get it to be stable without attaching it to the mobile home. Code office won't let it be attached. But, my hubby is figuring it out!

Almost done. But, it got cold. brrrr. Really, though he would still be working on it, but the stove at the church needed to be replaced and remodeling needed to be done because of it. But, I'd rather he be working inside. There will be some warm days again .... I am sure of it!

November Birthdays

A few years ago, I wanted a birthstone ring. My stone has always been topaz. Topaz was a pretty orange-yellow stone with flecks of brown. Now, mine is called citron and is yellow. It is not nearly as pretty. When I started looking for a ring, I was surprised. Clerks in stores thought I was crazy when I would tell them that topaz is not blue. It had not been as long as they had known! But, for the past forty years (at that time!) that I have known it was orange-yellow stone with flecks of brown! I assume topaz was also blue, but now they have reorganized the stones for the months. I thought monthly birthstones were something that was ... set in stone!

Today, I did a search online for birthstones. Here is a poem for November birthdays: Who first comes to this world below    In dreary November's fog and snow,   Should prize the topaz amber hue,    Emblem of friends and lovers true.

I thought it was interesting that my birth day (Friday) stone was topaz also. I never knew there were stones for each day of the week.

The birth month flower is  Chrysanthemum = Cheerfulness, friendship, abundance.

So, much for culture lesson for today! Enjoy the mum that was so pretty in my yard earlier. Now, the frost has got it.

Updates

It has been more than a year since I started using home-made laundry detergent and gave up the microwave.
The detergent seems to be doing fine. Our clothing is clean and have not rotted. And, we've saved several dollars not buying the expensive stuff.
We moved the microwave out to the shed last week. Steve's suggestion being we were not using it and needed space. I couldn't bring myself to get rid of it completely. It can be used there if needed. My idea is to have it on the counter we will  build one day in the kitchen so company can use it if they want. It can always be used for storage in the meantime. Time will tell.
I remember my first microwave. I wanted one but we could not afford to buy one. They had one at the school auction, but it did not sell. A friend owned it and had it sitting in their house. I made a comment about it. Later, I was collecting clothes for a needy family and they came over with a box. I saw it was the microwave box, but I thought it was clothes and told them to set it aside. They did and sat for a while. Finally, he said, "Well, if you don't open the box, I will." I looked at them funny and went to the box. Well, they had brought me the microwave as a gift! That was in the 80's. In the 00's we gave it away before one of our moves. That microwave was over 20 yrs old and still worked! Thanks Jim & Sally.

Birthday Showing

I had a nice surprise today. As I walked around the house, I saw a bug (butterfly or moth?). It put on quite a showing as I snapped photos if it. I could have touched it, but I knew better.

This one also made a showing, but only one photo turned out.

Sewing Again

When we moved into our house after retirement, we decided to make one room the guest room and I would sew in there also. That has not worked out for it is too crowded and not convenient for enjoying sewing. And I enjoy sewing. So.... I decided I am in the house a whole lot more than company, we should rearrange. At the same time my niece needed a bed, so we gave them the bed and put the hide-a-bed in the room for company. Then, I organized my sewing!

My Book Blog

Have you seen my other blog about my books? That is where I mostly comment on them, though, I have been slack there, also. Here is the link. Belinda Jo's books.

No carbs = no baked potatoe

I was in the mood for a baked potato with broccoli, sour cream and cheese. However, I am on no carbs (except for breakfast) for a month, so .... I just had steamed broccoli, sour cream and cheese. It was almost as good. And, I did not let my taste buds rule my eating!! Yea for me.

My girls helping in kitchen

This is a photo of my daughters watching me make a Thanksgiving pie in 1976. I wanted them to learn to enjoy cooking even that young.

Unmentionables

No, I do not mean age or weight. I’m talking about underclothing. When I was in high-school in the 1960s we called brassieres, bras. We still do but why did we do it back then? The word brassiere was taboo. You did not mention that word just like you did mention (or show) private body parts, especially in mixed company. There was a lady on television who used to advertise a certain bra. She showed it over her outer-clothing. Times have changed. Now people wear all sorts of tops that are supposed to be an outer-wear and they cover less than that bra did!
Then there are the panties, or as when I was a kid, we call them step-ins. Why? Logical. They used to cover you whole bottom. Now it seems its fashion show your panty lines through your outer-clothing.
SLIPS (in another post this same day)
Then lastly, but not least there are the pantyhose. Have you ever done a pull-wiggle? You know, during the day the material has stretched and started sliding down your body. You try to discreetly pull up on them to get them back into place.
Sometimes, I put them on without realizing I turn one leg around until it is almost on. They are our such a pain, and I hate taking them off to change it so stubbornly I decide to wear them the way they are. After walking around for a few moments, I feel like my leg is crooked, and finally give in to take care the problem.
Then what happens when you get a run in one leg of your pantyhose? It’s a shame to throw them away. The other leg is still good. So you save it until you have two of the same shade. Then you can cut off the bad legs and wear them together. If it is the kind that make you look slimmer than that you can look twice as slim. Right?
I have started wearing knee-highs. With them, you have to make sure your dress is long enough to cover them, so you do not look like an old lady with her socks sliding down her leg. But, then, I am getting to be an old lady, so why does it matter? And, you have to make sure the colors of each match.
One Sunday morning at church, though, I was able to bless someone when the knee-highs did match. During the church service, I noticed that I had on a black one and a navy blue one. I also noticed that there was a younger woman who looked a little depressed. After church, I went and sat down beside her. After exchanging pleasantries, I pulled up the hem of my dress a little and told her to look at my nylons. She had a good laugh and it helped her feel better.

Slips

Last night, when washing my hands, I realized my slip had not come down so I discreetly reached up to pull it down and explained to the young girl standing there. She looked at me oddly. I asked, "Do you know what a slip is?" She shook her head. I said, "It's an old-fashioned thing." and walked out. I have learned that most of the newer generation does not know what a slip is. A few years ago when I went into a department store to buy one, the young sales clerk stared at me as if I were an alien. I had to describe the function of a slip to her, then she vaguely recalled what it was. And, no they did not carry them.

Here is something I wrote a while back:

Slips: I have a love-hate relationship with these articles of undergarments. Slips are wonderful to wear under clothing. It makes me feel more dressed and keep people from seeing through my clothing, but static cling drives me nuts. The slip creeps up around my buttocks and I try to reach up for it without anyone seeing me. Or I try to make it to the ladies’ room and hope no one notices this bunch material around me that makes my hips look larger than normal. Then there are the slip straps. They are always falling down around my shoulder. Those stay-lock things just do not keep them in place. I enjoy the first time I wear a new slip. It feels so good and the straps are nice and stay in place. Then I wash it and some how after being in the machine they are never the same. The straps twist up and can not be straightened right again. If I have on a sleeveless dress then the strap is there for all to see, but at least I can push it back in ... and push it back in .... If I have sleeves then I have to reach in through the neck line to grab for it.

Then, of course, there’s the length of the slips. I keep saying that one day all my dresses and slips are going to be the same lengths so I will not have to worry. In a crowd another lady passes you and whispers, “You are snowing down south” or some other subtle hint. I really do appreciate their concern, but, so what! Like I can do something about it now. Sometimes I want to scream, “I like lace around the bottom of my skirt. Leave me alone!” Well what I do is head for the ladies’ room and have it out with my slip for slipping. I wonder where it got its name?



Slips Wikkipedia definition

New Toy

I got a new computer yesterday. It really is not a toy, because I shall use it for our business, as I research to write etc. It is a small one I can take with me here and there. I have been learning the basics for the new system. What was weird is that when I went to hotmail and cleared it out with this one, I found all the items still there on the home PC. Weird. Gonna check that again later. And, there were 2 emails with comments from Sharon way back in February, that came in as well as an email from 2009! Weird again!
Well, I hope I figure it all out so it will help me with my writing!

Chocolate Candies

I like dark chocolate. That is, up to about 70 % or so. After that, it is too bitter. I have recently cut back, though, so am not eating as much. I miss it, but try not to think about it. 'Spring' cleaning is helping keep my mind off it. ;) Dove Candies are my favorites and I like the neat sayings. My fellow workers did, also. And you'd see little gold foils taped to their section at work to remind them or the good thoughts. One time, a lady read a saying and then the name of the person and realized it she knew the person!
A couple of my favorite promises are:
Smile - It increase your face-value (by Lisa in Linden, NJ)
Sometimes good enough really is good enough! ( Nancy Lansing, IL) That reminded me of the entry I wrote about "know your limits".
Well, I thought, it would be neat to make a page of the sayings I like (or could I legally do that?), then being I am trying to cut back and do less, I thought, Maybe Dove has a page ... and they do! Here is the link. Dove Promises You can email them to your friends, too!
I guess I'd better get back to my chore before I indulge in a piece of dark chocolate!

Too much stuff!

I don't know about other countries, but we Americans have too much STUFF! Whew! Why do we think we have to buy so many things?? I have been organizing/straightening my house this week. With working for 5 months, then our trip, I have only done 'lick and promise' cleaning and straightening. Things sure did pile up. And so many little things I have to decide where to put or to throw out. My yard sale pile is getting bigger and bigger.
Why, oh why do we buy so much stuff? And, this year, we have cut back on buying inside things because we know we don't have room in our small place! Oh well, guess I will get up from here, stop whining and get back to work. Mighty glad I can still move around and clean house!! Now, that puts a different light on cleaning!

ZipLock

I just went to their home page and found this handy guide for shelf life. It is a PDF file and can be printed off.
ZIPLOCK shelf life guide

Hamburgers

Today, on facebook I saw an item about bionic burgers and how a man stuffed a fast-food hamburger in his pocket and forgot about it for a year. When he found it, it still looked the same, so he started a museum in his basement of hamburgers. Has anyone heard about this? That was 18 years ago.

Man's "Burger Museum" Reveals Why McDonald's Profits Increased by 80% in 2008

****  Now, there happens to be 2 real Bionic Burger restaurants in Kansas, so we need to not confuse the two!

Bionic Burger Restaurant

new speaking opportunity

The Charlton Public Library will host a book talk/signing on

Monday, November 08, 2010 at 6:30 pm with author Belinda Jo Adams.
 
Mrs. Adams will talk about all 4 books she has written, but “The Lure of Alaska” is the latest published and the main character is from Georgia, so that will be the featured book for her program.

Updated Web Page

While on our trip someone showed me how to make easier web pages. I knew there were ways, but I kept using the HTML code because I had my own templates and all I had to do was change the wording. That is why our web page looks so much the same. But, then they say your web page is not supposed to change so much from page to page and confuse people.
Anyway, the new way is with Wordpress and being I already had it on our web page as a blog, I have been playing with it for making web pages. If you want to check out what I have done, you can go to our web page, then click on the S&B Blog to see it. The blog comes up and at the top are the links to the pages I've made so far. http://www.belindajo.com/  One of those pages is the diary of our trip with photos. We were finally able to go see the grandchildren .... and their parents. :)

Grandchildren

... are such wonderful people. Just wished we could see ours more often. Of course, we enjoy our time with them when we do get to see them. It is amazing how much they change from year to year.
This year, while visiting our 11 year old granddaughter, I mentioned that we could write each other and she said, "Hey, we can be pen-pals!" That is what I hope to do. I picked up a post card and have it ready to start the process. We took purses that a friend made to the granddaughters. They are yarn drawstring, and when you turn them inside out, they are bassinets with baby dolls in them. They were a hit! Of course, in our day, the 4 yr old, turned the doll around and pretended it was watching TV.

Our youngest grandson (age 6) is usually only a 'mama's boy' but this year when I held out my arms to him, he came over and snuggled up to me. I felt it an honor to share in that special few minutes!
Last night we got to go and watch him play baseball and he made two hits to bases. I even got one on a movie. Now, I have movies of all my grandsons playing baseball. We get to see 2 more games!
We got to help the boys with their homework, listening to the spell words and read to us.
Well, now to leave the computer and enjoy them some more when they get in from school.

Peace Plant

Sometimes called a promise plant. I acquired one a couple months ago and I find that it needs a lot of water. Well, more than I give the other plants and they survive my lack of 'plant care ability'. I thought this morning, 'but is not that what PEACE needs is a lot of TLC.' hummmm?

My Weight Loss Celebration

Being I try to eat 'fit for life' most of the time, and really like the carb meals better than the meat meals, I realized I was eating too many carbs, so I started in Feb watching how many I ate of them and limiting, but not doing without. And also, trying to exercise more.
As of July, I had lost 8 lbs & 8 inches!!!! I reached my goal, but am trying to lose 5 more pounds so I can 'play' in that 5 lb area. :)

S. A. D.

The standard American diet is SAD. I heard this mentioned at a talk a few years ago when  woman spoke on healthy eating. I did not know at that time it was so 'talked about'. I am not going to include the links I found on it. But, if you are concerned with your family's nutrition, it would be good to search it for yourself. We know we don't eat right on the most part, but we keep doing so ... and then paying the medical bills for our poor choices.

What is Food Combining

Food combining is a way of eating where you eat certain foods with other certain foods that work well together in your body's system. Understanding how your body digests various types of foods is very important. Digestion is much easier and more efficient when only certain foods are eaten with each other.

Mainly, it is eating meat and vegetables or starch and vegetables. Not mixing fruit with other foods. Desserts: eating them alone or leaving them alone! etc. But can go a lot more into detail, even confusing, being the sites I looked at a few years ago, sometimes did not even agree with what foods went with which other foods.

Then of course, as with everything else there is the controversy. This way of eating sure does not go along with the standard American diet which is so SAD.

But, if you want to do a search yourself and study it, here are a few links. I do not know the people behind the pages, except for ‘Ten Talents’. Many years ago, someone jokingly gave me the cook-book. I liked it, but thought it was a little far-out, so along the way, I got rid of it with one of our moves. Now, I wished I had not, but a new one is $35 … and being I do not know for sure if I want it again, that’s a lot of money.

http://www.bodyecology.com/07/01/18/food_combining_optimal_health_and_weight.php
http://www.tidesoflife.com/food_combining.htm
http://www.yahwehsaliveandwell.com/fccfront.html
http://www.tentalents.net/foodcombiningchart.html (this is the chart I bought)
   the new book              the old book

Fit for Life

I wrote this item before I started working, but did not get it posted. Here it is now.

I am not saying for you to go buy their book or join their weight –loss plan. I want to give you my ‘testimony’ of how I discovered Fit-for-life and how it has helped me. I have had digestive problems since I was a kid. My mama told me a story today about when I was 3 years old and was constipated. It was a cute story. When I heard it, I realized I’d had the problems since I was 3!


While I lived in Germany, some of my friends were on the Fit-for-Life way of eating to lose weight and feel better. They suggested I do so. I had tried many different types of diets to help me control the ten-fifteen pounds I deal with most of the time. (I figure if I can keep that off, then maybe I won’t gain way much more than I want to gain.) I did not want to try another diet or read another book on healthy stuff, so I just smiled.

Then, one day I was in a thrift store looking at books. On a shelf, all by itself lay a Fit-for-Life book, with the title facing me. Now, I looked at that book, and thought maybe God wanted me to read it, so I chose it. As I read it, I realized a lot of it talked about the same issues that I had heard a speaker talk about only a few months earlier.

I have followed the FFL way of eating for about 5 years now, most of the time. It is hard to do so when we eat out or have church dinners, eat with friends, etc. But, I figure if we do so at home, when those events happen, then that is our splurge-times. We just have to balance the splurges.  When I eat FFL, I do feel better and don’t battle with my digestive problems as much.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fit_for_Life
http://www.fitforlife.com/

3 of my favorite things at once!

Yesterday, we took Mom to see her sister who is sick. Wanting to leave them alone to talk, we (being with hubby) decided to go for a walk on the beach. (another favorite thing). There was a gentle breeze blowing so it was not too hot at 1 PM. Then, I saw a butterfly (third favorite thing) flutter around me. I turned in a circle watching it in wonder. I don't remember seeing one at the beach before. It fluttered so pretty, then toward the waves, even 'surfing' a couple, then .... splat. oooo, it was gone. After that we saw at least a dozen, most of which had the same fate. When we decided to go back to the car and were walking on the car lane between the dunes with sea oats, we noticed hundreds of butterflies traveling along the dunes along the seashore. I took a movie, but it is  a minute long, so I will just upload this photo.
I don't kow what kind they were or if they were migrating or what.

Differences in Butterflies and Moths

Here are the differences in Butterflies and Moths. However, there are exceptions to each 'rule'. To read more you can go to the link below where I found the info.


Moths rest with their wings out to their sides. Butterflies fold their wings above their backs when they perch. Sometimes butterflies 'sit' with their wings spread for short periods of time.

Moths have stout and furry-looking bodies, while butterflies have slender and smoother abdomens. Moths have larger scales on their wings that make them look fatter. Butterflies have fine scales.

Most moths are nocturnal while most butterflies are about in the day time.

Butterflies have bright colors on their wings. Nocturnal moths are usually plain brown, gray, white or black and often with patterns of zigzags or swirls that help camouflage them during the day.

The most obvious difference is in the antennae. Butterflies have thin slender filamentous antennae which are club shaped at the end. Moths have comb-like or feathery antennae, and not club shaped.

Moths have a filament from the hind wing and coupling with barbs on the fore wing. Butterflies don't have these.

Moth caterpillars spin a cocoon made of silk where they metamorphose into the pupal stage. Most butterflies form an exposed pupa, also termed a chrysalis.
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Differences_between_butterflies_and_moths

new butterfly photos for September

This one was taken at my mom's house. I don't know if it is a butterfly or a moth, but it stayed right there for me to get this closeup and was there when we left 2 hours later. Don't know if it was alive, eating, hibernating, or what? But, it is pretty.

Later that same day, when we went to pick up a friend for church, these butterflies were where we pulled up. I took a distance photo in case they flew away when I got closer. They did. :)

I am not sure if there are 5 or 6.

a penny saved

ia a penny earned. Or as a friend recently said, when I started to quote that saying: "a penny saved is a penny to spend somewhere else!"

The Speech at the Library

The speech at the library went well. God led me each step of the way and most people seemed interested in what I had to say. Afterwards, I had opportunity to sell books and meet some teriffic people!

Peace

I finished my walk and was about 6 ft from the humming bird feeder when two swooped by me. One was keeping the other away from the feeder. I watched as they fought for the perch. I couldn't help but think there are plenty of openings for several to sit and eat, but they have to be there one at a time. I shook my head and wondered at the whole wide world, from the children in the nursery arguing over toys to the leaders of countries arguing over land etc. Made me think of a 60s song about getting together and loving one another right now. Why can't we all get along?

home made facial scrub

I thought about this so did a search. There are many recipes out there. Here are the two I plan to try.

Salt facial scrub

Ingredients: Salt, baby oil, Vitamin E, fragrance (if you want it).
Method:
Take a bottle with a lid. Fill more than half of the bottle with salt. Add baby oil into it. Stir
it with a spoon so that the oil seeps to the bottom of the bottle. Add a small amount of
vitamin E and fragrance. And stir it all together. There you are with your ready to use scrub.
http://home-family.top54u.com/post/Homemade-Facial-Scrubs.aspx

1 tsp olive oil ( cold pressed ) and 1/2 tsp sea salt applied gently to a wet face will not only remove dead cells, but it will also improve micro-circulation. Olive oil is going to nourish the skin, leaving it incredibly soft.
http://www.natural-homeremedies.com/homemade-beauty-recipes/facial-scrubs.htm

Microwave Oven Update

September makes a year since we unplugged our microwave and set it aside. I have probably used it a dozen times for no more that 15 minutes total. And I didn't think I'd last a week! It really has not been that hard to use the toaster over, crock pot, hot water pot, and of course the stove!

Movie of Praying Manits

Praying Mantis for info about them: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantis

Approximately 2,200 species in nine families worldwide.

Eye-spitters is what we called them as kids. We had been told that if they spit in your eye you would go blind. We used to see them in North Florida often. One day we kids were standing around looking at one, from a distance. A man walked into the yard wanting daddy. He asked us what we were doing. We told him. He said, “I guess maybe they could make you blind if they could actually spit in your eye.” It sure made me feel rather silly.

Anyway, here is a photo I took of one today.

My job

My job is finished. I am back home and am so happy. :) It is Saturday and I did not realize how tired I was, but being I did not have to clean things to prepare for Monday, when I got sleepy, I rested on the couch and took 2   30-minute naps. And could, do another without much effort! I did not realize just how much of a hold on our life it had made until yesterday morning when I noticed that I had not even put away the winter coats! Well, now maybe I can read some of your posts and contribute more. Take care.

Identity Theft

Identity Theft is not fun. When it happens, you have to prove you are you. Watch the movie at the link below to help protect yourself. It can happen!!  We know.

Though I was in church most of my life and thought I was saved, 35 years ago today I asked Jesus to be my Savior. We are going out for some soul food today. Hopefully there will be enough for some take-out, also! Happy birthday #2 to me!!!!!!!!!!! I like it when my birthday falls on a Sunday or Wednesday!!

Newest butterfly photo

Taken a couple weeks ago. A co-worker brought it in on a plastic plate. It had got hit by a car and was almost gone. So, I thought I'd let it live on in a photo! :)  Thanks Tab.

Counting People

I did not know what all was involved with the work.  My job is still on, but looks like it will be done shortly. It is interesting and though I would like to quit and be back home, I do want to fiinish what I started and see the project well done.

Cleaning House

I am in the middle of cleaning my house and need a break, so thought I'd say hello. I like for my house to be neat with no piles of stuff to be put away later, etc. But with working outside the home this spring and summer, every few weeks, I have to take a day and clear things out again. This morning, I looked at my kitchen and all the counters piled with clean dishes that needed to be put away (my husband tries so hard to help though he is working also off and on) and all I wanted to do was sit in the floor and give up!
But, I remembered about 20 years ago, going into a friend's house and she was in the same frame of mind. I looked around and said, "Forget about cleaning the house. Why don't you straighten and clean that table in the corner?" She did and later she came over and thanked me, telling  me her whole house was in order!! So, this morning I took that advice and focused on one corner of the kitchen. It is almost done now!
The reason it is getting cluttered is because I am so tired after work and I remember the quote I posted earlier and know I can only do so much so I sit and rest. After, the dishes are done and clothes are washed. :)
A couple weeks ago, we had a death in our family and relatives came for the funeral then afterwards we had friends from Missouri come to see us. The day before the death, we decided to rearrange our study. So, we took all the books, etc off the shelves and piled them on the guest bed. :) Well, they all got piled back in the study and for a 10 days everything just sat in a mess while 7 different sets of people used our guest room! Boy, that was a test for me to ignore what I could not change and focus on what needed to be done.
Now, I am sitting in my rearranged study typing this to you while I rest. But, it is time to get busy again. Maybe I can do a posting a little sooner next time!

ready for work

Hubby has been off work for a couple weeks because they finished counting people. But tomorrow starts a new phase of the work. Both of us start back to work tomorrow and we are getting ready.
Hubby is cutting grass and I am cleaning inside the house. :) I keep thinking, "This too shall pass." In the mean time, we are saving for that porch! Take care, all my blogging friends. I'll be back soon.

 

Web page update

I got an idea about a month ago to revise our web page. It took me this long to update it and today I got it online. Steve & Belinda's web page. If you visit it and see something that doesn't work, please let me know. It works here, but I know how things work in cyber space! Well, actually, I don't know how things work in cyber space, but I do know how things don't do just what you want them to sometimes. Enjoy.

Happy Birthday, America!!

God bless America and help us, please!


Tomorrow is not only USAs birthday, but our first daughter's and our first grandson's. In fact, we celebrate for a few days. With one of Steve's sister's birthday being June 30th, then Steve's and a niece on the 2nd. Then our daughter and grandson on the 4th and our other daughter and the niece's daughter on the 5th!

And, yes each of our daughter's got their own day. And their own cake. Though, I did bake two layers and decorate a layer each day, so we would not have so much sweet stuff around.

And for birthday parties, we chose special years to celebrate with others coming over. After their 1st birthday and the bi-centennial one for both of them, we did not want to do a party every year, so we chose 6yr, 9yr, 13th and 16th. On their 13th they had a slumber party.

Anyway, Happy birthday to all who celebrate with America.

I am reading this book. I picked it up at Books a million for $5. It is very interesting. I have tried to eat without eating preservatives and chemicals and have used cleaners without strong chemicals, but have not thought much about lotions, etc.

This book gives many warnings about LOTS!  Her husband is the head of a company so she advertizes for it in the book, but also gives links to other brands and in some cases, tells how to make items.

I am still studying on it, so .......

Hello

Work is slowing down some and my part should be over by the middle of July. I am looking forward to being a full time housewife again. I have met a lot of interesting and nice people and have experienced a lot that I never thought I would by working in the census. It has been quite an experience, but I miss being with my hubby. We enjoyed our first 9 months of retirement and are looking forward to being home together again. Maybe soon, I can even read your blogs again.

Quietness

I am enjoying a few minutes of quietness at home alone, saw that I had not signed out the last time I was here, so thought I'd say hello. I'll be glad when I can peruse your blogs again. I miss the fellowship. Well, the dryer stopped, so I shall go fold towels. Take care.

Knowing your limits.

"What I can do is what I can do and what I can do is enough."
A quote that is in this book. A quote that I have used for over ten years to remind me of my limits when I or others try to make me do more than I know I can do physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.

This morning, at the church, while cleaning, I knew that after I got the stove clean, that was going to be all I could do and not get too tired. With that and the combination of the chemical smells, I knew I had to leave, so I quoted the above to some ladies and told them about the book. They made a 'joke' of it and laughed. I wanted to tell them that they could laugh if they wanted, but I wished I had read that book when I was younger .... before I wore myself out. Maybe I would not have the ailments I now have .... if I had not tried to do everything everyone expected of me! I like a quote a friend told me once a few years ago, "I refuse to buy into the super-woman mentaility"

I saw a yellow butterfly today. It was enjoying our back yard.

Saturday at home

Well sort of, first I went to the church and helped with the once a year spring cleaning day. As much as I could that is. I cleaned the stove and then they were ready to use chemicals to mop, so I left being I have allergies and can't be around all that stuff. Hummmm .... I wonder what it will smell like in the morning for church. Being I left, I decided to go spend some time with my folks before going home.


I had a whole lot to do at home and kinda wanted to just stay home and do those things, but I 'gave' first and you know what? God blessed my time at home and I got a whole lot accomplished in a short amount of time. My kitchen is now cleaner than it has been since I started work in March. And I did not have to use stinky cleaners! I basically use hot water and natural dish soap. And some natural spray cleaner when I need that type of cleaner. My house is clean and I can breathe! I am glad they came out with natural products. Before, I basically only used water to clean things!

I feel so helpless

‘Used to be’ I could open a potato chip bag, or those type, by pulling the end apart. Yeah, sometimes, I pulled it too hard and chips flew onto the floor, but at least I could open them without help. Nowadays, I have to get the scissors and cut the package open. I am making some rice-a-roni for supper. (I know it is not that healthy, but it is low-sodium now, whatever that means … and I am tired). Anyway, I could not get that little packet of spices open without going to get the scissors. Why oh why do they make life so hard?

Newspaper Article

Any one living in the area of the Waycross Journal-Herald Newspaper: There is an article on Page 13 about Belinda Jo Adams and The Lure of Alaska. Yea!!!!