Far Above Rubies

Took a little break!

{ 03:10, 2006-May-25 } { Posted in Ramblings } { 3 comments } { Link }

I had begun to feel like I was spending too much time on the computer...ironically I spent a lot of time reading about homekeeping and meal planning and child training. I just spent too much time looking and not enought time doing!
I found a wonderful e book I purchased that helped me to set up a home management binder that was really what i'd been looking for, and laid out cleaning routines that have proven to be very doable! I am finally getting things under control around here. It is not perfect yet, as I am doing some projects in addition to the normal cleaning routines like lining the tops of my kitchen cupboards with EZEE peel off contact paper to make the next cleaning a snap. Oh, what a chore that was, getting up there and cleaning the greasy sludge. It's my own fault, though, for waiting almost FOUR YEARS to clean up there! AAAAAAAgh!!
So happy...we finally got the front yard tilled under and cleared of weeds and rocks, and we're planitng a lawn next week! Yippee!!!
The summer after we bought our home, we decided to let the lawn die for 2 reasons. 1, we hated the coarse look of the grass already there and planned to plant a new lawn, and 2, we were kind of in a tight place financially and it made sense not to spend the money to water a lawn we were planning on tearing up soon anyway.
But we never did, and i've had to live with this ugly dirty weedy yard (front AND back) for nearly 4 years. I have had to really fight to keep from being discontented at the state of the outside of my home, and to really have a heart of thankfulness that God saw fit to give us this home at all. Over the years we've lamented to each other about how we made a hasty mistake buying this house. It's too small, only 1 bathroom, tiny dark kitchen, a yard too tiny for a family with 3 kids and a dog for sure! But we loved the look of the area, and it's walking distance to 3 great parks, post office, grocery store, and the school the kids went to before we switched to homeschooling.
But when we get into that oh woe is us mode, we remind each other that moving here led us to meeting some very dear friends, including our former pastor and his wife, John and Angela. John married Chas and I, and Angela was (still is) such a dear friend to me and was there for Charlie's birth. We know that God led us to be here right now, so the best we can do is to try to make our home beautiful.
I mean, what woman doesn't want a lovely lawn with some flower beds and maybe a vegetable garden? I've longed to have a pretty yard to care for and craft. I grew some grape tomaotes and some lettuces in planter boxes last summer, but it wasn't the same. It didn't hold the same satisfaction as getting in the dirt on your knees and smelling the soil and having the sun beat dowm on your back.
Our porches have been a sore spot for me too. The shape of them is just wacky. We have a very old house but it has been built on to and modernized, and we've often commented to each other that whoever did all these "improvements" might not have been entirely stable. Our kitchen cabinets are hung crooked, doorjambs wonky, and the walls are horribly texturized. And the porches. SIGH...
I took matters into my own hands recently and with a sledgehammer knocked out these ugly board panels that go across the front of the porch, sort of closing it off. Now it's just the 2x4's and the posts. we'll get 2x2 to fill in the gaps and paint it a lovely white. Then, after the porch itself is stripped and stained, I plan to beautify it with some pretty wicker porch furniture and potted flowers and hanging baskets of flowers. An area truly fit for company and visiting...that's what I've always wanted.

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{ 06:06, 2006-May-25 } { Posted by southernbelle }
Maybe one day yall might consider selling and getting something that suits you better. Don't feel as though you have to be there the rest of your life. ;o )

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{ 07:25, 2006-May-26 } { Posted by Stephanie10 }
Hey, I know what you mean about getting caught up reading about how to have an organized home and great family life, but not having/making time to actually implement it. Good for you for making some progress along those lines!
Are you planning to attend the homeschool conference June 8 and 9? You can read more about it at homeschoolblogger.com/colorado if you've lost or never received info. Hope to see you there!

Great Blog

{ 05:05, 2006-Jun-23 } { Posted by johnshelpmeet }
I can truly relate to feeling like your yards & home are not what you dream. We live in Navy housing and it is far from our dream but as you said, for whatever reason the Lord planted us here and all we can do is do our best to make this house a home and thank the Lord for the blessing of having a home. Have a wonderful day. God Bless
Jennifer