"The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." Titus 2:3-5

About Me

Oregon, United States
I am a happy, Christian, wife and post-homeschooling mother. I have spent the last several years homeschooling and now I am "adjusting" to a new season of life as "empty nester". In 2010 we moved to be Host/Caretakers at a Bible Camp. We look at our ministry here as preparing the way for the gospel to be shared as well as encouraging believers in their daily walk. I am a farmgirl at heart and love the country, I love gardening and food preserving. I also, love tea parties!! I also have a Titus 2 heart and want to share with anyone willing to listen and learn. I love having friends over and teaching them how to make bread or put up pickles. And as we work, I love to encourage them to love their husbands and their children and to be Keepers at Home and all that implies and I love that you let me do that here!! Hope you enjoy visiting my farm and walking through a journey in life with me.......I hope at some point in time I can encourage you in your walk and in your home..........

Friday, July 24, 2009

Funtimes!!

I am off for a very fun
Saturday over the mountain
to the green, green
valley, leaving the
desert behind me
for a day. Pity. :)
YES!!!

I am happy to be going to the
Coburg Quilt Show. It is a lovely
small event that is very peaceful
and relaxing.

I am packing a Tea Party Picnic
lunch for my friend and I and taking
extra in case my friend
there, who usually has quilts
in the show, can join us!

I will be back with pictures!!
(I also took some pics
of my garden this
morning...I will
share my progress
there as well)
ENJOY YOUR
WEEKEND!!

In the Shop....

Some fun new "kitcheny" things
in my Etsy Shop today!!
Some "Dressy" Towels
A FUN vintage Hanky Apron

and a very "Happy" sign....
and there is more....
take a peek!! ;)

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Summer Daze Tea on the Veranda

At the May Farm!
With the help of my wonderful husband, we have
created a "Tea Room" on our front porch....
Above he put a flower box on a piece of
lattice to block wind.....
Below I have added some tidbits to
make it homey and "tearoomish" :)
We are set and ready for our first
group of 8 ladies!!


And here they are..... celebrating two of the ladies
birthdays!!

That is tea on
the Veranda!!

So, I know I promised to be back Monday.
Again, it was computer issues.
I just now learned how to download
and resize and post
on my daughters computer.
My hubby is still working out
of town and has the laptop
which is what I am familiar with
...he was home last weekend,
but may be gone for more than a week,
almost two weeks this time.
Then they should be done.

There is rumor that he may go to
a job in C'ourdelaine, do you
know that is where
Mary Jane's new store is!!
Mary Janes Farm!!
Wouldn't that be fun?? I am sure
my darling daughter would
not mind tending the garden for
a couple days....hmmmm.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

The Silent Blogger.....


Well, I am very sorry to
have been so silent!!



Life has just being going
and going at a very steady
and sometimes very fast pace.



But all that is behind me
now and I will get back to
being a good blogger
beginning Monday. I promise!!



For now a quick note for today,
in the next couple of days
I will share my pictures
from the Birthday Tea
we just had on the front porch
and then I am off for a
relaxing weekend at camp! :)



As I was reading
Proverbs 15 today,
I was taken in by verse 30.



My Living Bible reads:
"Pleasant sights and
good reports give
happiness and health."

I read the living Bible in the
morning as I am not always wide
awake and it is easy to
understand at that point
in my day. :) But once in awhile,
if a verse really stands out
to me and I really like it,
I will check it with another
translation to be sure I
have the real/full meaning.



My King James reads:
"The light of the eyes
rejoiceth the heart; and
a good report makes
the bones fat."



Well, the first does not
exactly mean the same as
"light of the eyes". I
looked up "light" in
the Strong's that is in
the back of this
Bible and the Hebrew
there means "brightness"
or "cheerfulness".
I also looked
up "fat". In the Hebrew
it means "to satisfy".



I LOVE that!!

That is telling me that
my brightness and
cheerfulness
affects my heart right
down to my bones!!

AND

That same bright cheerfulness
shining through
my eyes
can be satisfying
to other people!!



So, what a good word to
take to camp with me
this weekend
(and, well, every day:)



Be happy, be cheerful,
it is good for our health
and those around us!!

Hope you are enjoying your Summer Days!!

Be back soon with some pics....

Friday, July 3, 2009

Proverbs

Have you ever taken
Proverbs and read a
chapter a day?
You can read through
it in one month.
Especially fun with children,
to read the
Proverb for the day!!
We use to start our
school days like that.
But I still like doing
it myself. There is so
much practical wisdom
in Proverbs and advice on how
to behave in every situation...
I love it, no matter
what else I am reading or
studying I like to
read my Proverb
for the day.
Here are some of my
highlights for today...
from Proverbs 3
3- "Never forget to be
truthful and kind."
6 - "In everythiing you do,
put God first
and he will direct you and
crown your efforts with success."
18 - "Wisdom is a
tree of life
to those who eat her fruit;
happy is the man who
keeps on eating it."
21 - "Have two goals, wisdom -
that is knowing and doing right
and common sense.
Don't let them slip away!!.....
23 - they keep you safe from defeat
and disaster and from
stumbling off the trail"
Have a Blessed
Beautiful
Summer Day!!

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Marriage, Children, Gardens, Sales and Fun Times!

Next Monday my husband
and I will celebrate
30 years of marriage!!
That is him on the right.
So, this week our last
baby at home is away.
She is visiting with
friends in Portland,
we miss her when she
is gone, we suddenly
have an empty nest! :(
But this week we decided to
make the best
of it.....we cannot
afford to do anything big
for our anniversary,
maybe we will go
out for a special dinner
but not even sure
if that is going to happen.
So, we have
been making every evening
special while we are alone.
We are both home working
all day, but at night
we make sure we
sit down to a meal
together on the porch
or somewhere cool and
refreshing and
special. It has been
nice to take that time
in the evening
to spend together.
So sorry, again, that I have
not posted for awhile.
I am a bit overwhelmed right
now. I have two weeks until
my first tea on
the porch and a week and
a half until the
sale I am in, I am
planting pots for the
tables at the camp
we have coming up
at our friends, I also
need to get a couple
freezer meals done for
them to feed the people
who come the week before
to help get ready for camp,
AND my husband leaves
for an out of town
job...need to have
some meals for him to take.
Yep, I'm tired and crazy.
So, every morning until
it is too hot I
have worked in my garden
just trying to catch up on
weeds and then spread bark
in the paths.
My garden needs to
look nice for the
tea ladies...my husband has
helped me finish a lovely
spot with an awning on
the front porch,
I will get pictures later.
Then every afternoon I come
in and try to make things
to sell, not getting very
far with that one. :(
(This is a tea towel bag I made for sale)
A fun thing we have coming up
is a camp we attend
not far from home just
a few miles from us.
Last year we had a
couple guys who did awesome
dramatizations. One was a
German soldier testimony the
other presented the gospel
in a drama, he works with
Michael and Debi Pearl's kids
back where they are from,
Tennesee, maybe. :/
It is an awesome time of
great speakers, great
food and fellowship and
some awesome fun
for younger people.

My husband made these
game tables for
camp last year, this
year they had him make
two shorter ones for
the kiddos...they are
really cute!!
We are looking
forward to camp.
So, for the next couple of
weeks I may not
post as often as I like,
but I will try.
I need to get pics of
my garden and porch!
Hope you are enjoying
your summer so far...
I think I will be able to
enjoy mine in a
couple weeks. :D
"Steady plodding
brings prosperity;..."
Proverbs 21:5

Monday, June 22, 2009

Listen to the Promptings....

Last night I covered up
my tomatoe plants in
my garden......
I am soooo glad I
listened to that little
prompting.....
We had a frost!!
Actually, typical here in
the high desert :(
But what I was thinking is.....
Have you learned to listen
to those little promptings
that are from God.
Sometimes it may seem
silly, like, I should grab
two of this food item,
not sure why, but that night
you have unexpected
company......and
God knew that!!
Or.....a little
prompting to call someone,
or stop by, and just
turns out they needed that!
Or a prompting to
"be quiet"
when everything in
you wants to speak out....
Listen to the promptings....
It is awesome to see God's little
every day miracles in our lives
and just to know
He is right there working
all along.

Friday, June 19, 2009

We have had some rain!!!!

One beautiful thing about
the rain is........
The Iris's are blooming!!!
We have lived here, going
on 11 years. These were planted
when we moved here, but we
did not have a well for some
time, so they never got watered.
Last year one or two
bloomed for the first time.
This year, because of
rain.....WOW!!!
My daughter, 23, who is still
living at home, spent some time
in England about a year
ago.....she actually loved
the rain there, so
She was out one day taking
these pictures in the rain. :)
We really had some downpours, making
pretty good size rivers through the
desert!!
It has mostly stopped,
just a little sprinkle
here and there.......
Has helped the flowers
and garden, and weeds...
so lot's of work to do.
My husband has had to work
out of town lately,
he has been gone all week,
he will be home
tomorrow and leave again Monday.
He has our laptop with
our pictures on it, so that is
why I have not posted
much this week. Then
decided to see what pics my
daughter might have that
I could use. :)
This week I finished
planting/transplanting
my garden. Have all
the transplants in
from my friend in the valley.
My daughter got the lawns
mowed between rains and now
we just have weeds to get a grip on.
We are busily preparing
for my husbands
homecoming and a special
Father's Day.
He has been gone so much, he just wants
to stay home, rather than go fishing or
something like that, so we will stay here.
All our children will come and we will
cook something on the fire and
have all his favorites...
potatoe salad, grammas
cabbage salad....
His favorite pie for holidays is Pecan....
His favorite cake for his birthday is
German Chocolate, his birthday is just
next month........so for
Father's Day, I am attempting
a German Chocolate
Pecan Pie!! With homemade
ice cream!! That will
make him smile. :)
God has been very good to bless our
family with a husband and Father that
loves the Lord and serves Him...
Loves us and takes good care of us....
He is working so hard right now just to
keep us afloat....
We are Blessed!!
Have a Blessed weekend, enjoy
it with your Family or
at least with the man
God Blessed you with!!
Think of something you
can do to make him smile....

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Summertime......

What are your plans this summer??
My first plan is to get all
my garden going. Get all my starts
in the ground, the 9 tomatoe
plants a friend gave
me, some transplants sent home
with me from my trip.......
Then I just need to catch
up on weeds, it has been
raining, with thunder and
ightening and even hail!!!!
Very Crazy!!! But boy do
the weeds love it!!

After my garden is planted,
I will begin preparing for my
May Farm Cottage
Summer Daze Tea on the Veranda.
Every Tuesday and Thursday
through July and August,
Ladies can come have
tea on the porch.
So I am going to create a
"Tea Room"
at one end of the porch with
some fun finds from my trip. Had my
first call yesterday for a group
of 8-10 for a birthday celebration!



Then a lady I know is having an
"Upscale Yardsale"
in July.
She puts a pretty big ad in the
paper and it is not just a yard sale!
There are homemade items,
she has ladies serving
lemonade and cookies,
she has lovely
things on a clothesline, a
place to sit in the shade with
your refreshment,
several vendors as
well as we can bring our yardsale
stuff that is in good condition.
I have several things I want
to make, so that is in my plan.


Yummy Rhubarb Sauce....and I will
make some Strawberry and
Strawberry Rhubarb Jams.....

And, last big thing
of the summer,
well maybe not last
if I do an end
of summer tea in my
friends garden
.....but almost last
.......have not really
decided if I will do this.....
Prairie Day Camp!!
Yep!! Girls come for a
day camp, 3 or 4 days in
a row. First we
make bonnets and aprons
so they have them to wear,
then we do all
sorts of fun things,
from making candles
to embroidery......
Prairie stuff!!
Here they all are having
afternoon tea....

Ever seen girls have so much fun
washing dishes!?!

Sitting around doing handwork.......

Oh, yes, and in between
all that, I will be
busy keeping
the quail and such
out of the garden!!!
The girls love washing clothes in
the washtub with a washboard and
hanging them up to dry......


And just so you do not think I am a crazy woman......all these things just take a bit of initial organizing and then they are really very fun!! Also, my husband has not had much work and this is a little bit of income and a way I can help from home.

And, I do plan on having some nice breaks.....July is our 30th wedding anniversary and we plan to go somewhere nearby for a night or two.....On the Tuesdays and Thursdays that no one has called to reserve tea, I may have my own friends over for a time of relaxing and chatting......And, I do want to read this summer....in the shade......yes!! Not sure what I will read, nothing too intense, just something fun......

Some friends and I plan to go to the Coburg Quilt Show and take our own "Tea Party" picnic. We also have a fun local camp we attend that is very relaxing for me.....

And if I had small children around, which sadly I do not, I would have them by my side in the garden, they would help me make cookies and serve tea to the ladies, and of course they would enjoy Prairie Camp!!! And when it got too hot.....they would dip into their wading pool, while I cooled off in the hot tub which will be set on a low temperature......Enjoy your children this summer!! Keep them nearby, they will soon be grown, very soon.....

What are your summer plans???

Monday, June 1, 2009

Sunshine on a Rainy Day.....

I Love the sun shining into
the back room
between rain showers....

I am leaving town for a few days, so will not be on my computer until next week. Please come back......I have a short time after doing this tea and before I plant my garden to take a little break and visit some friends....AND get to go with my husband who is working out of town. Once I plant my garden, I will have to stick around and tend to it, which I do not mind one bit. So,I will be back.

Have a BLESSED week!!

A Jane Austen Tea

Here are our lovely girls
all dressed for a Regency
day.........
They practiced and
practiced and did a very
good job of dancing!




It was a very hot day,
so Iced Tea was on the menu......

Bath Buns!!
As Mrs. Elton recommended Bath for
Mr. Woodhouse's health.....

A Perfect Picnic Tray....

Beef pie....if you look closely....
Mrs. Jennings had one at her
Lawn Bowling Party

For Dessert.....Truffles and
Tarts, Mrs. Weston's
Far Too Rich Wedding Cake
and Strawberries from
Emma's outing....

Jane's writing desk.....



A bookmark to take home,
with a picture of Jane and
a quote from Jane. The
menu tied with a ribbon.

A very lovely day!!
Now...don't you just want to go plan
a Jane Tea Party for yourself!!