Summer mornings...

I love mornings and coffee. My daughter thinks I'm funny, because I put the coffee in a teapot to pour it in the cup sometimes.

So had a great week, my spin cycle wasn't spinning out the clothes, and my dryer was already taking longer to dry clothes and that meant sooner or later I'd have to get that, also. My husband came home and said he had a surprise for me, his boss had a washing machine and dryer that he said still works and we could have it. I was thinking, hey if it spins out clothes and doesn't take two cycles in the dryer, how awesome.

Well, I couldn't believe it, on one of the jobs they used to wash their own uniforms, but had started taking them to the dry cleaners. When he brought in the washing machine and dryer they were practically new Maytags for free. I know the Lord works in mysterious ways, but I'll tell you this was totally out of the blue.

The neighbor has a magnolia tree and I get so excited when it gets blossoms on it in the summer. She lets me take some, because I love the smell of it. I tuck it in here and there like I do my roses, and when you walk by it the scent is amazing. I've got to get a magnolia tree, her's started getting blossoms when it wasn't that big, and they're so beautiful, so Southern. We've already been bringing in honeysucle from outside, love it.

Isn't it funny how we decorate for the seasons and they go by so quickly you want to hold onto them as long as you can, esp Fall. Here it is July 4th right around the corner, and they'll be red,white and blue everywhere, flags flying, fireworks, we'll be doing burgers, hotdogs, dessert, lemonade and watching the fireworks going off over a baseball game down the road. We can see them in our backyard, don't have to get caught in any traffic,and if mosquitoes get too bad we can walk into the house. lol We used to buy fireworks at the stands when the kids were little, but goodness they've gotten so expensive.

Everyone that doesn't have a garden check out for local farm stands, or farmers markets in your area. It helps out local farms, and all the fresh fruit and vegetables are 100% better for you than what you get in the grocery store. I can't wait till next month, peaches and apples at the orchard.

We are fearfully and wonderfully made...

So I've been reading up on farming books, homesteading, some blogs with tons of info, even facebook has places now to join in groups. Right now I'm reading 5 Acres and a Dream, which they also have a blog. I tell you I'm in awe of the talent people have to create and build from practically nothing. It's amazing what people can do and inspire others by reading and seeing it. Whether it's tearing out walls, cooking on woodstoves, canning, working gardens, taking care of animals, crafting or recipes, I love it.

Psalms 139 says... "I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well." It's so encouraging to see people's hard work come to fruition and they share what they've learned. We can do so much more than we think, with determination and hard work it can happen. I've learned so much I have to write things down, and all the old recipes women are sharing is keeping me busy trying them. I really want to get better at working with bread, and crusts.

One thing I don't want to do, but probably will at some point is use a pressure canner, they scare the heck out of me. I think many of us are afraid of them, because when we were kids we heard those stories of exploding canners throwing hot food on ceilings and walls, and when Mama is canning you stay out of the kitchen. I remember peeking around the corner hearing that thing on top shaking and making noise like it was screaming at you to get out. EEK! Now they have new ones that aren't as dangerous, so they say. I think I need to do it sometime just so I can say I conquered a childhood fear. lol 

 I want a woodstove, I remember relatives cooking on woodstoves when I was a kid, now all these things are coming back. Alot of people that can alot are doing it outside, or have another part of the house just for canning and preparing things. I tell you that's ingenious, because when you can in the kitchen it gets so hot, and everyone has to stay out. I've only canned using a waterbath with apples, and strawberries. People are using grills outside, and firepits, some are even making their own brick ovens outside.

 I love electricity, and don't want to be without it, I want air conditioning in the summer, and to watch my old movies on tv. Most of the ones I read have electricity, some don't. They want to be more self sufficient, I respect that, and there's so much to learn in alternative ways of energy. We are so dependent on technology now, it doesn't hurt to learn whether you ever use it or not.

It's June already!!

I can't believe it's June already. I hope everyone is having a good summer and staying out of the heat. It's getting hot here, already up in the 80's. I'm a Fall and Winter person, but as long as I have crafts to work on, I'm good. :) I'm working on another red and white afghan, here's one I did before for a Christmas present.

This is the one I just started, simple granny square and I love red and white together.

My next one will be another red and white ripple I put a red ribbon edge on. I used Attic24's ripple pattern.

I was also looking in one of my craft drawers to get a kitchen towel to put another iron on and embroider, my others ones have gotten a little shabby and I want to do a summer theme. Here's a link to my other ones and a photo... http://soundinthemulberrytrees.blogspot.com/search/label/Embroidery

So anyway I saw some fabric I love and haven't used yet, and was thinking about doing some yoyos for a quilt. Have you ever had fabric you just loved so much and didn't want to use it so it doesn't grow old looking? Well, I guess it's time to take it out of the drawer and do something with it, maybe pillowcases, not sure.

 Another project I had in mind for the summer is doing some more painting on little wooden boxes. You can find them at thriftshops, but you can also buy some unpainted ones at Michaels, just paint them, modpodge a couple of coats, modpodge some photos, scrap paper pieces, or cut out cards, modpodge the whole thing again. Here's one I did a long time ago.