Country Dreaming

New Blog Spot

I'm trying some different things. I've started another blog over at blogspot http://dreamingthesimplelife.blogspot.com/ so pop over sometime if you wish!

Christy

Christmas Tree Traditions

Welcome to our traditions!

What kind of tree does your family use? When I was growing up we had a fake tree because of my grandmother's allergies but now my parents get a real one. Makes me laugh actually! My family gets a real tree, nothing like the smell of one.

When do you put your Christmas tree up each year? We usually wait until the a couple of weekends prior, but all the other decorations usually go up right after Thanksgiving.

What kind of traditions do you have when putting up the tree (if any)? One tradition is that we have to watch Christmas Vacation or listen to Christmas music. My husband and I put the lights on the tree and then the kids get to decorate. My husband and kids put the angel on at the end.

How do you like to decorate your tree? Lights and all my ornaments I have collected plus Emily’s homemade ones. I think this year I want more handmade ones.

Do you have any other interesting things that you would like to share about your Christmas tree? Usually my husband sets up one of his trains under the tree. Our son loves it!

Deep breath

Okay, I wasn't going to do it. I wasn't going to blog and continue this insane bashing that we are doing today! I joined this blog to learn from people the simple life, homesteading, fellowship, etc etc. I am not pleased at all with the way this blog has gone today! I'm sure I will get many negative comments and I don't care. Everyone has that right, so here I go.

I voted for McCain because I felt he was the best man for the job. I didn't vote because he was white, I could care less if he was black, Hispanic, purple, red, man, woman etc.

First, being a veteran of the US Armed Forces as well as the 4th generation service person, you stand behind your commander in chief (the president) no matter what! My husband and I were both in the Air Force, he fixed the airplains and I loaded bombs on the airplanes. Yes that's right I loaded bombs! I defended the United States for 10 years!!!!! My father was wounded 3 times in Vietnam, my grandparents were in WW2, so I am a PROUD AMERICAN no matter what has happened with the presidential election because guess what, your right to vote was defended by my family! And there are men and women still out there defending what our country was founded on.

Second and probably the most important, GOD has a plan. It doesn't matter that we don't agree with Obama or McCain. There are no democrats or republicans in heaven. GOD doesn't care if you are a democrat or republican He cares about you and your love that you have for HIM. Instead of complaining we need to stand steadfast and put our faith in the Lord. He has a plan, He wanted what happen to happen for whatever reason. It could be to put us as a nation back on track, it could be to bring this nation together, it could be a number of reasons it doesn't matter because it is what GOD wants us to do. I have faith that the Lord will provide what we need no matter the situation. I have trust in God that his plan is good. I'm going to stand steadfast and pray that His path will be revealed to us. I will just pray!

Okay, I'm sorry, I may have people decide that they don't want to be my friend here on the blog and I'm sorry for that but we have to put this into perspective. There are a lot of people, who we voted for as well (those Senators and Congressmen), that will keep Obama in check.

Prayers for everyone!
Christy

Happenings!

Well, some of you might have thought I have fallen off the face of the earth. Nope! Just extremely busy. I think I have mentioned in the past that I'm trying to finish my thesis and I have until December 2nd to get it done. However, one major obstacle is money! If I can't pay my past bill I can't enroll to defend my thesis (all I need is to enroll for 2 hours). BUT I decided that I wasn't going to get discouraged by that. I was going to do my part, pray and I know God will provide what funds I need. If that doesn't happen then at least I know I have done my part and can feel good about it knowing that is not what God had intended for me. So needless to say I have been preoccupied with that instead of creating.

On another subject, I have been thinking about communities. As you may or may not know I live in suburbia. What was once a small community is now a community that is "THE COMMUNITY TO LIVE IN" area. Snobville if you like. Which makes me sad since I grew up here as did my parents and grandparents and wanted my kids to as well, but that is another blog. Anyway, I long for a small community where people depend on one another. So my thought was to start a website were people can list services that they can barter or exchange. Meaning....I will cook 5 dinners for you if you come tune my piano or I'll fix your car if you come fix my shower, etc etc. I would start telling people at church in hopes that it would catch on. Surely there are people out there that are willing to help or exchange out services. I think it would be a good stewardship. I don't know........

I'm hoping to be able to get some quilting done and some Christmas presents started but I think I'm going to be pretty busy for a little while until I get this stupid thesis done (sorry just soooo tired of it)! I shouldn't be that way but my heart isn't in it. I'm not even sure I will ever use it now. My goals, dreams and aspirations have changed so much that I don't know if it was ever worth it to begin with. But at the time it seemed like the right thing to do.

Hope everyone has a terrific day and week! I have been reading everyone's blog. You all are such inspiration to me and others I'm sure!

Christy

My Kitchen

 Saw this on several blogs so I thought I would do it too!

1. Do you have magnets on your fridge? Yes, just the clothes pin kind and Little Pet Shop ones.

2. Do you have a calendar in your kitchen, if so, what's the theme of it? I have three. One is our menu, one is my daughter's school menu and then our dry erase board with the monthly schedule. Our menu calendar is fall theme!

 3. What is your favorite kitchen gadget or tool? My wooden spoons.

4. Are you lucky enough to have a pantry of some kind? Yes, not a walk in but a very deep shelved cabinet.

5.What is your favorite appliance? My crock pot and KitchenAid Mixer.

6. Do you have an eat in kitchen (table in it)? Yes

7.Do you have a bread box? Yes but I don't use it much.

8. Do you have a picture of your kids on the fridge? Yes of my daughter. I have other pictures throughout of our son.

9. Do you ever cook breakfast in your PJs? Occasionally.

10. Do you have a favorite cookbook that you use? Yes, my crockpot cooking lightly book as well as getting recipes off the web!

11. Are you lucky enough to have recipes that were passed down from your mom or grandma? Yes, I still have one grandma left plus I have my husband's grandmother's recipes too.

12. Whats your favorite food? Mexican!

13. Whats your favorite thing to cook? Cookies

14. Is your coffee pot electric or stove top? Electric

15. Do you ever make your own bread?  Yes but not often enough. I would like to make more loaves at a time. It seems to disappear as soon as I make it.

16. Name one thing that you have hanging on your wall in your kitchen. Coca Cola items

17. Is there a clock in your kitchen? Yes a coca cola one plus the microwaves clock!

18. Do you have a bowl of fruit sitting on your table or counter? Yes apples and bananas

19. What type of canisters do you have? None

20. Does your kitchen have a theme? Somewhat country with a mix of French country and coca cola stuff.

21. What's for supper tonight? We are going to my parent's house for a family dinner. I think we are having ham, mac n cheese, butternut squash soup, pumpkin whoopies and apple pie (I'm bringing that).

22. Do you have enough cabinet space? Yes

23. Does your family use paper plates?   No

24. Do you have a good set of china picked up? I have 2 place settings. I never think about adding it on or having other's do so.

25. Do you wear an apron to work in your kitchen? No but I should. I do when I volunteer at the church, it has my name on it!

26. Name one thing, if anything, that you would like to change about your kitchen. New sink!

Thursday Talk

Good afternoon!

Well I have managed to find some wool felt in this city. Hancock apparently carries a minimum supply (4 colors) and I found squares (4 colors) of it at Hobby Lobby (expensive) but I think I have what I need to create my project at least. But I'm still on the look out for a more inexpensive way of completing the projects.

I'm back at work today although both my hubby and our daughter are at home. I met them for lunch and they are hanging out today. I'm taking tomorrow and Monday off. Instead of camping we are going to go to Enid on Saturday go to the train museum, Leonardo's and then stop at a corn maze/pumpkin patch on the way back. Our son will be thrilled with the trains. They not only have model trains set up but several real trains, engines, cabooses and other rail cars. Leonardo's is a big hands on children's museum. Lots of science and creativity plus they have a huge outdoor playground. FUN! Then on the way back in Covington we will stop at this corn maze farm. I think it will be a good time.

I have a long list of things that I want to get accomplished this weekend. After reading everyone's blog about decluttering, I now have the bug too. I'm going to sell some stuff on ebay I think. Things that I have collected over the years (McCoy pottery) that I don't always use and don't really need even though it is very beautiful. I will keep some of my favorite pieces but there is no need for them just to sit and collect dust. Plus I have some of my son's clothes I can put up. Whatever doesn't sell I will donate. I don't have time for a big garage sale.

Going to organize the pantry and other cabinets; make some more napkins; bread and may be quilt a little. Plus I need to do our bi-weekly shopping. So I plan to be busy but I think it will be worth it if I get it all done.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Christy

Wool Felt

AAAAGGGGHHHH! I'm wanting to make some fall projects and evidently if you live in Oklahoma you can not purchase wool felt. Heavens to Betsy! I mean really why is Oklahoma so backwards! I made a fall purse using felt because I can't read directions. I was supposed to use wool felt but that's okay. If I can find some wool felt I thought about remaking it. These projects I would like to do use wool felt. Yes, I got on line but what I need would end up costing me more than I was really wanted to spend right now! AAAGGGHHH!!!!!

Okay I'm done with the pity party. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. By the way, I canned some applesauce yesterday. Even though I don't have a lot in my pantry (as far as canned items) it was nice to see what I had done already. Mind you that it is only plum jelly (8 jars) and applesauce (only 4 jars) but hey it is a start.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Christy aka "Frustrated Crafter"

Busy Times

I've been reading but not posting, mostly because I haven't felt like being creative but may be just because. We had a great weekend. I don't know if I had mentioned before but my husband found a compost bin in our neighbors yard. I is a double bin with removable slats. Very nice! So we have started our compost pile. Also, he was able to acquire free 4x4s from the couple that watch our son during the day. So we went and picked those up Saturday about 20 of them. We brought them home and layed out our first two garden beds. We also made a frame for our swing that my grandmother gave us. I will try and take pictures and post. I couldn't help but think of you Sharon when I was sitting in my new swing.

I tried my hand at canning this weekend too. Plum jelly. Well I will have to say that my jars sealed just fine but the jelly didn't set up. So last night I reprocessed it and this morning, I had JELLY!!!!! I'm so excited! We left a couple of jars in the syrup state to have on our waffles that my husband makes on Sunday's. But I now have the start of my homemade Christmas gifts.

Saturday I went scrapbooking with my friend and had a great time. I'm so behind but I've enjoyed looking back when my daughter was smaller. I used to be a Creative Memories consultant and have been thinking about starting again to help with staying home again faster. I also finished my fall purse I was making. I should have read the directions more clearly and made it out of wool (I used felt) but it turned out nice. Additionally, wool is hard to find around here just like canning goods. I wouldn't think Oklahoma would be that far removed from such things but surprise we are!

We also got notified this weekend that the couple that watches our son during the day are closing their daycare (it was in their home) and moving 2 hours away for health reasons. So yesterday I spent the day on the phone and driving around looking for a new center. We found one that is great but it doesn't help the heaviness in my heart. I so wish our plan was in place so I could stay home but I couldn't guarentee that I would have the work if I went part time with my current company. And until things get more stable with our finances it wouldn't be a smart move. I know I know God will provide and I believe that. And as of late, there are things that have been happening to confirm that my path is going to be back home with my kids. It just takes time and God is working with me along the way to open those doors. Patience!

On top of that, our daughter has strep so we are home again today. Luckily I can work from home when  I need to but I was hoping to take a few days off because her fall break starts Thursday until Monday and my husband is taking time off too. We were supposed to go camping but it doesn't look like we will. I may still take time off without pay at least a day just so we can be together.

Must get back to work, I will hop on later to see how everyone's day is going! Hope everyone is well and happy!
Christy

Catch up

Howdy,

I know you all have probably been wondering where I have been since it has been over a week since I posted. May be not but at least in my little world you have. Anyway, I have been busy. Work is a rollercoster of slow and busy times. In the place I work a lot of things depend on money (LOL). No what I mean is we work for big utility companies or entities that require reports on new property. Work isn't coming so fast and other projects are wrapping up so it is slim pickens around here. Scary? A little but I'm trying my best to put my faith in the Lord. I've had to, otherwise I would be in the looney bin! Even my husband's job got a little scary for a week when he had to cut back on his overtime. But all is good (for now at least). I just think that it was the Lord's way of saying "Don't count and live on his overtime!" Something we have always done. Shameful I know but I'm learning!

Anyway, I had a creative weekend. Not only did I make dinner for my parents and grandparents plus my 3, I made my first set of napkins!!!! They turned out beautiful and everyone got to use them. I didn't get to making applesauce or working on a purse I'm making but I'm hoping that I will be able to this weekend.

My good friend and I have been talking about quilts lately. In fact we made a special trip to Wal-mart at lunch to look at fabric. I think I have succeeded in getting her hooked on quilting and sewing more. We talked about starting a Handworking Group. You know like the old quilting b's. I think it would be fun. Yesterday she showed me a quilt block she liked so I went home and whipped it up for her to see. Now we are making plans to make it together, so she can learn how to quilt and because I have been wanting to make her one.

I find I like being home more and more. I have never been one to be a "homebody" but it feels good. I look forward to my time in my home taking care of my family, providing them love through everything I do. Life is so busy sometimes that it makes me appreciate when I can be home. Things seem to be on track for me to SAH with my kids again. Things are falling into place. It's amazing what the Lord can do. It is in His time and He will let you know what and when if we just listen. It is hard to be patient but the reward is vast.

Well, I've taken enough of your time up. Hope all is going well with everyone!
Christy

Thursday Thoughts

So I've been so busy reading everyone's posts and commenting that I have neglected mine. I have been able to get up earlier this week but I have used it on reading my bible and working on my thesis. My goal for next week is to get up even earlier so that I might have some more "me" time.

Anyway, we are in an Indian Summer here in Oklahoma. Warm days in the 80s with lows only in the 60s. I'm jealous of those of you that are already experiencing the true fall weather and look forward to when we finally do. I'm looking forward to our camping trip in the middle of next month. We go to the eastern part of Oklahoma (Ozark Area) so I'm hoping the leaves will be turning their gorgeous shades by then. If not it is still beautiful and it will be great to be away with just my husband and our kids. No TV, limited cell phone coverage, etc!

I'm looking forward to a slow weekend. But I seem to be making a list of things that I want to get done. Like organize all my scrapbook stuff in order to use what I got or donate to fellow scrapbookers. I feel the urge to purge! Get rid of everything I am not using. Which brings a questions, what do you do with the purged piles? I mean I donate or pass down clothing and try to pass those unwanted things along, but should I try and have a garage sale (I still live in surburbia) and use that money to pay debt, save, etc. Or should I just donate the items. I'm torn.

I recently through one of my great-grandmother's quilts on my bed. In the past few years I have buried my redneckgirl that I just displayed all my quilts. I decided that they were made to be used! Which brings me to another question....if you have antique linens, as I have collected over the years, should I use them instead of well just storing them? For example I have some 1940 napkins in pretty good condition. Would you use them? Otherwise I have them stored away. I know shameful!! You ladies probably think I some kind of whack job! I'm learning ladies......or should I say, I'm remembering what I once was.

A few other things, I want to do is make bread, finish my purse I'm making, start gathering my quilting stuff, clean, read, relax, etc.......whew! Why do I try and cram so much in. For wanting to slow down and enjoy the simple life I've managed to make myself busy yet again!

Hope everyone is having a terrific day!

Christy

Patience

There are times that I hate the saying "Good things come to those that wait" or "Patience is a virtue". For whom? I've been praying hard about the path the God wants me and my family on and I feel I"ve been making the "right" decisions. I mean it is hard not to ignore the chest pains when you are about to make the wrong decision and then it feels like a weight has been lifted off your shoulder when you make the right one. This has recently happened in my life and yet I stop and wonder. I strongly believe I did right but how come I feel miserable. And now my impatience is showing up by thinking, okay what is the next step? Show me now!!!!

Besides the doubting if I made the right decision and the impatience I feel, I can't get out of this worrying mood today. With what is going on in the world today (i.e. financial instability) I can't help but worry about my family. Then I stop close my eyes and say a breath prayer. I know God will provide everything I need and my family needs, I know I have to keep faith in Him. But the world doesn't make it easy at times.

Sorry for the ramblings.....

Christy

So many ideas so little time!

Good afternoon all!

Sorry for the delay of posting, I have been busy the last few days. In fact I only have a few minutes then I'm off to pick up the kids, my parents and we are on our way to Dallas. My daughter has a Tae Kwon Do competition tomorrow and we are headed down early (hoping to beat the traffic). Anyway, I think when I return tomorrow evening, I'm going to start preparing some of my ideas I have for gifts. Like my napkins and I had a great idea for my son's babysitter. Smocks for the kids. He goes to an in home daycare and she conducts a preschool. So they do a lot of activities were smocks would come in handy. Quesitons I have is, what type of material do you think? I'm thinking may be vinyl like tableclothes are made out of?

Also, I have some other crafts that I think would be fun for fall that I want to start. Plus decorating for the fall, since it is my favorite season. Probably because my birthday is the first day of fall!!! I'm actually not dreading this birthday. I have to many things to be thankful for. And I want to make some bread! Plus I need to go to the store....whew I'm tired already. Well, best get going.

Well, I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Christy

Quilting and crafts

So at lunch a good friend and I went to Hancock's Fabric Store because I have a plan to make cloth napkins and get off of paper napkins. I know some would be appalled that we are using paper napkins but it is the steps I take towards simplicity that counts right? Baby steps, baby steps. Anyway, I got a great piece of fabric (1 yard) for $1.74 and another piece for $1.47. I so excited about having a basket full of cloth napkins for my family to use. In fact, I've decided to make homemade gifts for several friends and family and I think I will include napkins as part of their gifts. Question is how many do you make? 4, 6 or 8; I guess each person I make for will be different depending on the size of their family.

I used to be a avid quilter. But then we moved and my "true" self got hidden by thoughts that I wanted to keep up with the "Jones" to "fit in". Boy if you all only knew my mental state a while back. I'll save that for another blog. Anyway, while I was in the store, I found myself coming up with all these ideas for quilts, gifts and crafts. I got so excited!! I have a list started and plans. Now, somehow I have to fit it into the schedule some how......

Christy

Wednesday Ramblings

Good morning! ANother glorious sunshine filled morning. The monarchs are migrating and it makes me smile to watch them flutter around.

On my drive in this morning I watched a lady eat her breakfast and then floss her teeth as we were driving down the road. I thought to myself, our society is too busy. Too busy!! What was happening in her life that she couldn't eat breakfast at home or even floss her teeth? I have been trying to get up earlier to have some time for bible study and reading time. My dh gets up at 4:00 am every morning for work and on his days off he might sleep in until 6:00, so I do not have an excuse not to. Anyway, my dh made me some coffee before he left and when I did get up it felt good to putter around in the kitchen and then wake my kids up in a non-rushed manner. I'm finding that my ds works better if he eases into the day rathern than be rushed into it. I'm happy for having that little time and now I realize how important it is. So I'm taking a vow to get up when my husband does. I mean it shouldn't be that difficult we both go to bed at the same time. I'm just being lazy!

Also on my drive I wa slistening to CNN (yes, I have XM radio but only because it was a gift from my parents) and thinking of all the chaos that is goin on in the workd today. It is scary to think about the rising gas prices which in turn lead to rising cost of consumer products. I so wish we, my family, had everything in place right now instead of working towards it. I know the Lord will provide everything we need in the time frame he wants it (i.e. me getting to work from home, our land, chickens, goats, garden, etc.), but I was starting to worry and then I started getting the tight chest feeling again so I put in a Joyce Meyers CD to listen to. (My friend at work led me to listening to her and it is helping a lot in my walk with the Lord). Anyway, I felt better. I know that we are doing what we are supposed to be doing and that God has a wonderful plan in store for my family. I even feel that it will be within the year, may be not our entire plan, but a good portion of it.

I'm very blessed and I'm so glad I found this blog! You all are a great inspiration.

Hope everyone has a great and blessed day!!!

Christy

Fall

I love September! Mostly because my birthday is the first day of fall but more so because it is a new season, change. I'm not scared of change in fact I love the challenge of it. I love the crisp cool mornings. We have been able to have our windows open and sleep with them open at night. Makes me want to go camping. It also makes me want to make soups and drink hot tea curled up with a good book. I look forward to the day that I can go out to my garden and pick some ingredients for homemade soup! I want to learn how to can too! I'm going to tap into my friends skills with that one. I figure she can teach me how to can and I can teach her how to quilt! What a trade!!

To clear crisp mornings!

Christy

A Journey

As I sit down to enter my frist blog, I'm daydreaming about making a quilt for my daughter for Christmas. You know out of all her T-shirts she has collected over the last 9 years. But I know that I need to come to the task of introducing myself.

I'm a country girl at heart. Grew up on a horse ranch, my family trained quarterhorses that raced throughout the US in the 1970's. However after the death of my grandfather we sold the horses but kept the land. Until the mid-1990s when my parents and grandparents sold the farm, while I was overseas serving in the Air Force mind you. Now my beloved farm that I grew up on is a big housing addition.

Anyway, I meet my wonderful husband overseas in Germany. Loved it there! He is from a little little town in Pennsylvania and being a redneck girl myself we immediately fit together. We dreamed of having our own land and did for a short time in Tucson. However after 9/11 we moved back to be close to my family in Oklahoma. Over the years I have went back to school received my bachelor while raising our first child Emily. While getting my master's we had another child, our son Elliott and I decided I needed to go back to work full time. What an error that was!

Now let me tell you what a struggle that is everyday. I envy those of you that are home and I long to find my way back there. I'm missing so much of my kids everyday life and I feel they need me at home. My wake up moment was a few months ago when I was traveling quite a bit for work. This affected my marriage tremendously. We have recently found our way back to church and I believe that is the only thing that has saved us. About a month ago I started having anxiety attacks on my way to work. I knew then that my strong urge to simplify our lives was evident. Something must be done!

We have a plan in place to pay down debt and I'm praying that if it is God's will that I can return to my real job as being a mother and homemaker. I may have to supplement our income part time but I feel my place is at home. We are working towards having our own land again. I dream of being a homesteader, raising and home schooling my kids. Living the simple (but hard working) life! I know it will be well worth it!