Saturday, June 29, 2019
Winner of "No Empty Seal"
I had so much fun reading all your delightful memories from when you were younger.
And now it's time to choose the winner for the book, No Empty Seal.
Random.org has chosen comment number ...
Congratulations!
Loretta said … Shared with a friend on fb.
I think this is the first time a comment about sharing my giveaway was selected as the winner.
Please send me an email with your address and I will get your book mailed to you.
And now it's time to choose the winner for the book, No Empty Seal.
Random.org has chosen comment number ...
Congratulations!
Loretta said … Shared with a friend on fb.
I think this is the first time a comment about sharing my giveaway was selected as the winner.
Please send me an email with your address and I will get your book mailed to you.
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Attic Finds
One of the interesting things about cleaning the attic this time, other than how long it's been taking us, is watching the girls go through their childhood treasures and deciding what to keep, toss, or donate.
We only work in the attic in the mornings before it gets too hot up there, and since everything is getting touched, and read, and reminisced over it's taking much longer than originally anticipated.
I'm keeping most of their school writing projects that they read, laughed over, and then were going to toss. I'll treasure them for years, and I'm assuming someday they will be glad I saved them.
I also snagged a few of their hand stitched doll clothes from where they tossed them in the trash after they were done reminiscing about all the fun they had making them and laughing at the crooked stitches they used to make.
I have discovered it's much harder parting with their childhood things, than it was parting with my own.
We only work in the attic in the mornings before it gets too hot up there, and since everything is getting touched, and read, and reminisced over it's taking much longer than originally anticipated.
I'm keeping most of their school writing projects that they read, laughed over, and then were going to toss. I'll treasure them for years, and I'm assuming someday they will be glad I saved them.
I also snagged a few of their hand stitched doll clothes from where they tossed them in the trash after they were done reminiscing about all the fun they had making them and laughing at the crooked stitches they used to make.
I have discovered it's much harder parting with their childhood things, than it was parting with my own.
Saturday, June 22, 2019
No Empty Seal ~ Giveaway
Today I'm surveying my pile of Amish books again to select the one that I'll be giving away this week.
And ... let's go with the little book, No Empty Seal by an author who interestingly enough wishes to remain anonymous. Other than someone Amish, I have no idea who wrote it.
It used to be one of my favorite books when I was a teenager. It was a well read little thing on our limited assortment of reading material.
It's about young Miriam Schlabach and follows her as she navigates rumspringa and the summer of instruction classes for joining the church.
If you would like a chance to win this book all you have to do is leave a comment telling me a fun little memory you have from your teenage years.
As always for more entries, post a link to this giveaway on your Facebook, blog, Pinterest, Instagram or other social media account and then come back and leave another comment to tell me that you did.
I will choose the winner next Saturday June 29th using random.org.
And ... let's go with the little book, No Empty Seal by an author who interestingly enough wishes to remain anonymous. Other than someone Amish, I have no idea who wrote it.
It used to be one of my favorite books when I was a teenager. It was a well read little thing on our limited assortment of reading material.
It's about young Miriam Schlabach and follows her as she navigates rumspringa and the summer of instruction classes for joining the church.
If you would like a chance to win this book all you have to do is leave a comment telling me a fun little memory you have from your teenage years.
As always for more entries, post a link to this giveaway on your Facebook, blog, Pinterest, Instagram or other social media account and then come back and leave another comment to tell me that you did.
I will choose the winner next Saturday June 29th using random.org.
Winner!
LV and I just got back from an out of state business thing we had to take care of, and after getting a nice glass full of fresh sweet water, (I miss it when we're gone) I quickly consulted random.org for the winner from last week's giveaway of the book, The Miting, by Dee Yoder.
And the lucky winner is ....
Comment #3 magnoliasntea said ...
The best book of fiction I've ever read is The Hidden Hand by E.D.E.N. Southworth. I've read it three times, which I rarely do, because it is that good. Thank you for a delightful giveaway.
Congratulations! Please email your address to me and I will get the book shipped to you.
And now, for our next giveaway ... I'll have that post up in a few minutes.
And the lucky winner is ....
Comment #3 magnoliasntea said ...
The best book of fiction I've ever read is The Hidden Hand by E.D.E.N. Southworth. I've read it three times, which I rarely do, because it is that good. Thank you for a delightful giveaway.
Congratulations! Please email your address to me and I will get the book shipped to you.
And now, for our next giveaway ... I'll have that post up in a few minutes.
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Bits and Pieces that Stirred Memories
A friend posted a little something on Facebook about blinking her eyes, and it immediately sparked a memory of an old German song we used to sing that contained the line; Denk bei jedem augenblicki obs vielleicht der letzte sein. (Think every time we blink our eyes that it could be the last time.)
German was considered to be a holy language, and wanting to please God I attempted to think that every time I blinked. It didn't take long at all, before I realized I blink way too often in order to be able to think anything other than that I'm blinking. So I quit and hoped God wouldn't mind too much.
Neither LV or I can ever see a sign like that with out immediately having a memory come to mind of a certain Amish man who was ordering food at a restaurant that was offering free Wi-Fi. After placing his order he added that he'll also take one of their free "wiffys". It took the girl a minute to figure out what it was that he wanted.
Poor guy found out that day that you can't eat a "wiffy", or Wi-Fi, which I'm sure was a huge disappointment to him. After all when you're Amish, food is much more important than internet connection.
I've made a discovery though, and that is, I value the memory of all the fun I had with my childhood toys way more than the actual toys. After hanging onto them for so long I finally said good-bye to everything except my rag doll, Sally.
I can't throw her out. All the love I poured into her ... she was my baby, and I still feel protective of her.
German was considered to be a holy language, and wanting to please God I attempted to think that every time I blinked. It didn't take long at all, before I realized I blink way too often in order to be able to think anything other than that I'm blinking. So I quit and hoped God wouldn't mind too much.
~~~~~
Free Wi-Fi, the sign at the window proclaimed.Neither LV or I can ever see a sign like that with out immediately having a memory come to mind of a certain Amish man who was ordering food at a restaurant that was offering free Wi-Fi. After placing his order he added that he'll also take one of their free "wiffys". It took the girl a minute to figure out what it was that he wanted.
Poor guy found out that day that you can't eat a "wiffy", or Wi-Fi, which I'm sure was a huge disappointment to him. After all when you're Amish, food is much more important than internet connection.
~~~~~
Working in the attic is bring back all sorts of memories.I've made a discovery though, and that is, I value the memory of all the fun I had with my childhood toys way more than the actual toys. After hanging onto them for so long I finally said good-bye to everything except my rag doll, Sally.
I can't throw her out. All the love I poured into her ... she was my baby, and I still feel protective of her.
Saturday, June 15, 2019
The Miting ~ Giveaway
I've been working my way through our storage room and attic, cleaning, organizing, and downsizing. In the process I have come up with this stack of Amish related books that I've decided is time to find a new home and allow some other people to enjoy them.
My plan is to do a giveaway every Saturday for one of them.
Up first is The Miting. I had talked about this one when I first read it, and I still feel the same way about it. You can read that post here.
To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment about a book that you have enjoyed reading.
For additional entries link to this giveaway on your blog, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or other social media and then come back and leave another comment to tell me where you posted. (One entry per comment, so if you link to more than one social media account please be sure to leave an individual comment for each one.)
I will be choosing the winner using the random generator next Saturday June 22nd.
Giveaway is now closed and winner chosen.
My plan is to do a giveaway every Saturday for one of them.
Up first is The Miting. I had talked about this one when I first read it, and I still feel the same way about it. You can read that post here.
To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment about a book that you have enjoyed reading.
For additional entries link to this giveaway on your blog, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or other social media and then come back and leave another comment to tell me where you posted. (One entry per comment, so if you link to more than one social media account please be sure to leave an individual comment for each one.)
I will be choosing the winner using the random generator next Saturday June 22nd.
Giveaway is now closed and winner chosen.
Wednesday, June 12, 2019
Art
I was in second grade when we moved to the Amish community in Somerset County. There had still been a few weeks of school left, and John and I were thrust into a roomful of strangers the very next day.
As overwhelming as it was to be the new "kids" I loved school; books, pencils, and learning were my favorite. This new school used different curriculum than I had been used to. During my spare time I found it especially fun being able to go back to the start of the workbooks and do as much of the parts I had missed as I pleased.
The schedule taped to the teacher's desk promised an entire period devoted to art every Friday. I could hardly wait for it. I used to love all the things we did in art class those first weeks of first grade before a new teacher took over.
When Friday arrived I was sorely disappointed. The art class consisted of coloring a picture. And so it continued through the rest of my school years. Every Friday the teacher would plop a pile of duplicated pictures on her desk and we would have to color them.
I wanted to learn how to draw, but with no one to teach me I gave up on drawing pictures by the end of third grade. Obviously only talented people could draw pictures, and I wasn't someone gifted with that talent.
Fast forward to present day. I have loved the art program I got for our children to do in our homeschool. They have really blossomed with it, and I love seeing all their drawings, paintings,and art they create.
This spring I had a light bulb moment. Why, don't I do the same art program? Why not wake up the still sleeping desire to draw and create that was put to sleep when I was nine?
I went ahead and started. I'm no where near where my children are, yet. But I'm loving the progress I'm making. And it's so satisfying to know that drawing/art is something you can learn. That it doesn't have to be simply something you were either born with or not.
As overwhelming as it was to be the new "kids" I loved school; books, pencils, and learning were my favorite. This new school used different curriculum than I had been used to. During my spare time I found it especially fun being able to go back to the start of the workbooks and do as much of the parts I had missed as I pleased.
The schedule taped to the teacher's desk promised an entire period devoted to art every Friday. I could hardly wait for it. I used to love all the things we did in art class those first weeks of first grade before a new teacher took over.
When Friday arrived I was sorely disappointed. The art class consisted of coloring a picture. And so it continued through the rest of my school years. Every Friday the teacher would plop a pile of duplicated pictures on her desk and we would have to color them.
I wanted to learn how to draw, but with no one to teach me I gave up on drawing pictures by the end of third grade. Obviously only talented people could draw pictures, and I wasn't someone gifted with that talent.
Fast forward to present day. I have loved the art program I got for our children to do in our homeschool. They have really blossomed with it, and I love seeing all their drawings, paintings,and art they create.
This spring I had a light bulb moment. Why, don't I do the same art program? Why not wake up the still sleeping desire to draw and create that was put to sleep when I was nine?
I went ahead and started. I'm no where near where my children are, yet. But I'm loving the progress I'm making. And it's so satisfying to know that drawing/art is something you can learn. That it doesn't have to be simply something you were either born with or not.
Tuesday, June 4, 2019
Currently
Reading ... this may sound boring, but I have been enjoying a stack of books by various authors that recommend other books. I'm busy taking notes and planning out the reading list for our upcoming school year.
Then there is of course the stack of books from the library that Steven and I read together. He's especially enjoying the Mr. Putter and Tabby series this week.
Watching ... all the birds at the bird feeder outside the kitchen window. I especially like the gold finches and the cardinals, but enjoy seeing all the different birds. We have a wide variety that enjoy hanging around. The pair of cardinals we have is one of the sweetest though. The male will go get a seed from the feeder and then take it to his "wife" for her to eat. No words to really describe that except ... Awww! So sweet!
Listening ... to the sound of conversation and laughter as the girls are discussing something that is obviously hilarious.
Cooking ... for lunch we enjoyed homemade pasta in a cream garlic sauce. Delicious! For supper we'll have a salad for all of us. I have steak thawing for LV and Kenneth, and the rest of us will enjoy leftover pasta.
Cleaning ... the storage room. We're almost done. We approached it with more of a heartless mindset this time. Things that the only time we see or touch them is when we clean the storage room are being donated or thrown out. I was hanging on to a lot of sentimental things, but taking pictures of the best of them and then getting rid of the items actually feels good.
No one needs the empty candy boxes from when LV and I were courting. Board books, toys, wedding gifts we haven't used in twenty years. Time to say bye-bye to all of it!
I tried selling some of the better things on ebay, but that is proving to be a joke, so donate it is.
This afternoon I'll be dropping off this hand cranked bread dough mixer. It was a wedding gift. I think I used it once or twice. I prefer making bread dough with a bowl and a wooden spoon. So it's bye - bye space hog.
Social media ... I'm doing a post on Instagram every day. Feel free to follow me there.
Later today ... I'll have to go to the bank to sign some papers to straighten out a headache we found out about yesterday afternoon. I didn't have enough time to make it in before they closed, but they were able to freeze what needed to be frozen until I get there today to sign the necessary paperwork.
It's all annoying, but I'm thankful for the way our bank takes care of problems like this.
Yesterday ... we had our annual homeschool evaluations done. Woohoo!! It's always nice to have those done for the year.
Crafts ... it's the time of year when there are so many options of flowers to dry. Did you know using a microwave to dry them works beautifully? It also preserves the lovely colors in the process.
Then there is of course the stack of books from the library that Steven and I read together. He's especially enjoying the Mr. Putter and Tabby series this week.
Watching ... all the birds at the bird feeder outside the kitchen window. I especially like the gold finches and the cardinals, but enjoy seeing all the different birds. We have a wide variety that enjoy hanging around. The pair of cardinals we have is one of the sweetest though. The male will go get a seed from the feeder and then take it to his "wife" for her to eat. No words to really describe that except ... Awww! So sweet!
Listening ... to the sound of conversation and laughter as the girls are discussing something that is obviously hilarious.
Cooking ... for lunch we enjoyed homemade pasta in a cream garlic sauce. Delicious! For supper we'll have a salad for all of us. I have steak thawing for LV and Kenneth, and the rest of us will enjoy leftover pasta.
Cleaning ... the storage room. We're almost done. We approached it with more of a heartless mindset this time. Things that the only time we see or touch them is when we clean the storage room are being donated or thrown out. I was hanging on to a lot of sentimental things, but taking pictures of the best of them and then getting rid of the items actually feels good.
No one needs the empty candy boxes from when LV and I were courting. Board books, toys, wedding gifts we haven't used in twenty years. Time to say bye-bye to all of it!
I tried selling some of the better things on ebay, but that is proving to be a joke, so donate it is.
This afternoon I'll be dropping off this hand cranked bread dough mixer. It was a wedding gift. I think I used it once or twice. I prefer making bread dough with a bowl and a wooden spoon. So it's bye - bye space hog.
Social media ... I'm doing a post on Instagram every day. Feel free to follow me there.
Later today ... I'll have to go to the bank to sign some papers to straighten out a headache we found out about yesterday afternoon. I didn't have enough time to make it in before they closed, but they were able to freeze what needed to be frozen until I get there today to sign the necessary paperwork.
It's all annoying, but I'm thankful for the way our bank takes care of problems like this.
Yesterday ... we had our annual homeschool evaluations done. Woohoo!! It's always nice to have those done for the year.
Crafts ... it's the time of year when there are so many options of flowers to dry. Did you know using a microwave to dry them works beautifully? It also preserves the lovely colors in the process.
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