Strong willed

Miss Emma Bean.


She loves music and bright colors! 


Her favorite rock star outfit!

She loves animals! 


Where's Emma? Oh, playing with the animals.

She is silly! 


She loves to laugh and make others laugh too!

She is willing to try new things! 


Skateboarding? Let's go!

She is strong willed and determined. 


A few years ago she spent nearly the entire summer practicing cartwheels until she could perform them perfectly. I was very impressed!

But every coin has two sides. That strong will and determination that kept Miss Emma Bean practicing those cartwheels is the same strong will that sometimes causes her great grief.


When Miss Bean wants something her way but cannot have it her way, when she wants to do something she is not allowed to do, or when life will not conform to her expectations, her strong will and determination move her to fight for what she may not have.


Miss Bean fights. She yells. She stomps her feet. Miss Bean is left hurting and sad. Not just because she isn't getting her way, but also because when she calms and stops fighting she feels very sorry for her behavior.


What Miss Bean cannot do yet, is distinguish between when it is good to fight...like for those who cannot fight for themselves or to correct injustice...and when it is not good to fight...like when getting what she wants is not good for her or isn't possible at the time.


As Miss Bean's parent it is not easy to hold my tongue when she begins to fight against me. There are times I want to yell right back. 


I'm learning a greater measure of patience because of my Miss Bean. Because what I know, what I pray she learns sooner rather than later, is that her strong will and determination, if used for God's glory, will be a great blessing to her and those around her. It is my job to train her, to guide her, and to correct her now, so that her gift of a strong will and determination may become that blessing.


So I will work to remain patient. I will tell my girl that her strong will is a gift! I will tell her that that gift comes with the responsibility to learn when to put it to use, and when to reign it in. It may take some time, but I know she'll get it. She'll get it because my girl is strong willed and determined! And I love her for it!

Christine

And pride goes, runs, bolts before the fall

We are expected to get a couple more days of warm weather here in Minnesota and then that's it! Winter! That's right. Winter!


Well...okay, we should get a few days of Fall first, but then...Winter. Winter is coming, make no mistake about it, and to prepare, we had to do some shopping for Miss Sofi Bug, who did not have a single pair of jeans from last Winter/Spring that fit.

Good gravy that girl just keeps growing!

Fortunately we had some success finding jeans that she liked and had a little extra time to go looking at shoes...for me!

I found two pair of platform heals that I thought were pretty darn cute! Nothing too crazy high...this time! But high enough that I, when wearing them, will appear significantly taller than my girl! This has become a priority to me!

Miss Sofi Bug, noticing the height of the shoes I was looking at, accusingly asked if I was trying to buy shoes that would make me seem taller than her. 

"Oh yes baby! You might have the height, but Mom can buy the heels!" I pretty much teased her in this fashion the remainder of the time we were looking at shoes!

As I was only planning to purchase one pair of shoes, I decided to try on one shoe out of each pair to get the Husband's opinion about which ones he liked best.

While standing, I slipped on one shoe. I did not buckle it. I raised my other foot to put on one of the other shoes, my ankle buckled, my arms flailed, and I found myself sprawled on the ground! It was spectacular. Actually, I may have just been a spectacular spectacle!

I don't know what happened!

I remember thinking I should probably sit down. Then I was down! Right on my butt! In the middle of a shoe store. Full. Of. People!

Proverbs 16:18 instantly came to mind! Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall! 

You can take my word for it, Pride (and after already making a spectacular spectacle of myself I may as well just be honest and say, it was pride, it was vanity) bolts once one has landed on their butt! Pride runs like the wind! Pride may give one the push that sends them flailing to the floor, but Pride does not hang around to offer a hand up! Pride has no intention of sticking around to otherwise participate in the spectacular spectacle!

I think I'll let that be a lesson to me! Dang, I hate learning the hard way!

My daughter is taller than me! There it is! Time to sit back, relax, and be okay with it! Because that is way better than landing on the floor in a shoe store. Full. Of. People!

 I did purchase one of the pair of shoes.

I only bought them because I think they're supper cute! And they were on clearance, 50% off! And I had a coupon! They only cost me $10 dollars! I couldn't resist!

However, I will wear them humbly! I swear! So help me never to land sprawled on the floor of a shoe store. Full. Of. People ever again!!

Christine

A bug's life

In the blog post, Pest Control, I shared with you that I purchased Praying Mantis egg cases in the hope that the little insect cannibals would help to reduce the amount of plant eating insects in the garden.

I've purchased the egg cases for several years now, but this is the first year that I've photographed them at the many different stages of their growth.


So, I'm going to share with you!


I realize that not everyone finds these creatures to be as fascinating as I do. Therefore, I will not be offended if anyone wishes to skip reading today's post. However, if you leave, I really do think you'll be missing out! They really are cool! But I won't be offended!


Anyway...


Mantises start out very tiny.

Hundreds of them emerge from that little brown case. Hundreds! And they are so little!


The first few weeks after they hatch, I could easily find dozens of them in the gardens where I released them.

Still so little! But their movement, and the sheer numbers of them made them easy to spot.


As the mantises got a little bigger, they became a bit more difficult to locate because they began to spread out into the yard or garden. They do not like to be close to each other. It may have something to do with not being very comfortable with having a neighbor who is a cannibal.

I'm pretty sure he was smiling for this photo!

A few more weeks and the mantises turn green. They do not move around so much anymore. They wait very still and very patiently for dinner to come to them!

The Family had been so excited that the mantises were living where we could watch them everyday! 


And then nothing! We couldn't find a mantis anywhere! We were so disappointed!


We think they may have become frog food. Very sad!


After several weeks of lamenting the loss of our mantises, we found this guy.

YAY! And wow was he big!

It's incredible how much they grow. It fills me with delight to think about how many bugs he must have eaten to grow that much! YAY again!


Another fascinating thing about mantises...please don't be freaked out! They shed their skin!

That's right, when they grow, they peel off their old skin!


Next thing you know, that mantis is nearly as long as your hand.

Now when I go looking for the mantis in the garden, I don't have to search very much, I just listen for the crunching, and yep, there he'll be, eating his lunch! Yes, you really can hear the crunching!

That bit of brown next to his arm, yeah, that's lunch!

Very cool bug!


Christine

The best I could do

Today I have a to-do list that is a mile long!


Ok, that might be a slight exaggeration. Only slight!


That's often what happens when one takes time off to relax a little.


Today I'm flying around, trying to get caught up on the things I didn't do yesterday.

Plus, I'm busy as a bee with the things that need to be done today!

That's just fine. Yesterday's tranquility was well worth it!

Sometimes you've just got to stop and smell the roses!

Of course one also risks the chance of a cheesy blog post because one is crazy with trying to get the mile long to-do list accomplished! Please don't judge! And please, keep reading the blog!

Please, and thank you!

Christine

My 5 hour vacation

Today I take my annual 5 hour vacation!


It is the only real vacation I get each year!


Oh, we have "vacation" time as a family. 


It's good to get away from the regular routine of life. The family always has a wonderful time together! But, and I think most moms would agree, vacations are never really a vacation for mom. Vacations usually mean a lot of work for mom! Planning, preparing, taking care of everyone's needs, cares, concerns, problems, and desires. Vacations can be a lot of fun, but usually, a lot of work! I haven't even mentioned the load of work once the family returns from vacation! Laundry, grocery shopping, the bills were paid right? Yes, very relaxing!


I just want to be clear, husbands do help! I'm not complaining about whether or not they do their share. The reality however, is that like at home, when the kids need something, want something or have a problem, they call for mom! Mom is always on call! A big part of mom's routine and work comes with her on a family vacation. Yes, I mean the kids! 


Again I want to clarify. Love having my kids! Love spending time with them! But kids and relaxing do not mix for mom!


Today is the first day of school for Miss Sofi Bug 8th grader,

and Miss Emma Bean 5th grader. Wow time flies!!

The house is quiet!


No one will be calling "Mom" for 5 hours! 5 whole hours!!


No one will knock on the bathroom door moments after I have closed it!


No one will make a mess seconds after I have just cleaned!


The girls have gone off to school and they will not "need" me for 5 hours!

Bye! Bye!

Ciao Baby!


Today, I take a vacation day!


I will NOT clean!


I WILL have a grande Starbucks Mocha!


I will NOT go through the stack of papers that has been piling up on my desk the last 3 months.


I WILL look at all of the magazines that I have not had a chance to read all summer!


I will NOT vacuum, even though I found a wad of dog fur in the hallway. I'm not even going to pick it up and throw it away!!


Oh, who am I kidding? I'm totally going to pick it up and throw it! But I will NOT vacuum!


I WILL sit on the porch, feel the breeze on my face and watch the birds!


I will NOT make anyone else's lunch!!!


I WILL eat a bag of microwave popcorn! And I won't share it with anyone! HA!


Today, the first day the girls are back in school, I will relax! I will breath deeply!


Tomorrow I will once again make the list and get to work, but today, I vacation!


Christine

The last hurrah!

This is it! One final, summer craft before school starts. Tomorrow! Less than 16 hours from now! So soon? whimper whimper!


Anyway...to keep our minds off of tomorrow...we tie dyed!! yay!


All you need is a few supplies. Buckets, dye, salt, rubber bands and lots and lots of white t-shirts!

Add in a few friends!

Instant fun!


There's really not much to it. Prepare dye according to package instructions. Curl, twist, tie, and bind your shirts with rubber bands!

Then toss the shirt into the bucket with your favorite color of dye!

Stir, stir, stir!

Wash, wash, wash!

Rinse, rinse, rinse!

Hang to dry!

Voila!


Just remember...


Be creative!

Think outside of the box and do something other than a t-shirt!

Say thank you to the friend who brings refreshments!!

YES! This refreshment was adults only! The kids got ice cream sandwiches!

And the blue dye will eventually fade from your skin! I think! I hope!!

We passed the entire afternoon without thinking about the start of school more than 15, 20 times tops! Our yard looked very festive too!

Fun, fun, fun!


Now, how to keep from thinking about the start of school the rest of the evening!


Christine

Next time

It has been a tough year for my vegetable garden.


I'm finally enjoying a harvest of tomatoes,

green beans, and cucumbers. 


We've also enjoyed some delicious herbs.


We've definitely had some tasty, garden fresh meals!

But man, it has been a struggle. 


Whether it was the very cool spring, which made for a slow start to the growing season, or the sudden extreme heat, which caused the vegetable plants to wilt and the weeds to grow double time, or the buckets of rain, which tried to drown my plants, or the gardener who wouldn't work the garden in the heat, nor in the rain...that would be me...the garden has suffered.


Herbs definitely died from too much rain water. Except for the lavender, that was choked out by weeds because, as I said, the gardener would not work the garden in the, with heat index,130 degree heat. I should probably fire her...uh huh, that gardener would be me!


The tomato plants are turning brown and beginning to shrivel up. It's very sad.


And while my bean plants, though they took forever to begin to produce any beans, are now thriving, the Japanese beetles think I planted them to satisfy their voracious appetites! grrrr! Thankfully the beetles only eat the leaves. The beans themselves are left untouched and have been so very good.


Oh yeah, it's been a tough year for my vegetable garden! 


With so many wonderful Farmer's Markets close to me, I have begun to wonder if I want to put myself through this again next summer. Yes, I am already thinking about the garden for next summer!


And I'm thinking...I'm going to fill it with Zinnias!


I decided when the family was visiting the gardens at the historic Glensheen mansion in Duluth MN. (We were blessed with the opportunity to stay in Duluth for a few days last weekend very inexpensively. It was a great treat!) If you ever make it to Duluth, it is worth visiting this historic place. It's quite amazing.


Anyway, there is a section of their garden that is devoted to Zinnias.

Not only are they beautiful, but they attract butterflies! Oh so many butterflies!! This is the reason I want to fill my garden with the brightly colored blooms!

The garden was a flutter with butterflies! Oh what joy!

Butterflies do not always hold still for photos. To give you an idea of how many butterflies there were, I have circled them. Yes, those little smudges are butterflies! 

While we marveled at the gardens, I remembered that the Mother-in-law used to have a garden full of Zinnias. It too was always full of butterflies!


That is what I want next year! Butterflies! Butterflies! And more butterflies!

Again, butterflies...not smudges! Really!

They are a wonder and a delight! 


I suspect that when God made butterflies He said, "They're going to love this!"

And I do! I do! I do!!


Christine