It's Been Good

The weather reminds me of a meme I read this last week: "It's like winter is really mad and keeps storming out of the room and then coming back and shouting, And another thing!" Here in the middle of nowhere it can do that. We're that wild and unruly. We had snow on the ground and ice on the trees Friday (16) and Saturday (17). Today Sunday (18) we still had some of the ice from the trees melting and splatting down at us, like the trees were in the cahoots with winter, storming back and saying 'take that, and that, and that'!

I'm still at odds with the ant hill. A friend recommended a Murpheys oil soap, which does diminish the rascals for a time. I did like what it did on my ancient wood dining room table. However, they still come back after a while, and sometimes with a vengeance. Although she recommended adding maybe some lemon and citrus oil to the mixture. I'm planning on cleaning off my counters en toto and washing them down, and then beginning a clean up throughout the rest of the house. When I find the stinkers climbing on me as I sit in the dining room at the table I know it's a real fight to the finish...

The month of March is probably our busiest birthday month. We have six at least. It was also my Grandfather's birthday month and for some reason I always count in Saint Patrick's day. Saint Patrick wasn't a native of Ireland, but came from (probably) either Scotland or Wales. He first came to the Island as a slave, kidnapped by Irish pirates when he was approximately sixteen. And the seventeenth of March was supposed to be the day of his death or as they credited it--his entrance into heaven.

So, we had a birthday celebration on the 17th for two of the birthdays (one was actually in February) by going to a skating rink party. All of the kiddos, both young and some slightly older had a good time, although some of them looked like they were learning to 'break dance' or something close to it. I didn't do the skating or the dancing. Just keeping my feet going the right direction, and doing what they're normally supposed to do without incident is challenge enough let alone putting them on wheels.

I like to make personalized birthday cards for family. I've been dabbling at this craft and hobby for at least five years and am acquiring some level of expertise. I enjoy shopping and present gathering, but since my health issues have steadily robbed me of that fun, at least I can still make the cards and put money in them. I've wanted for quite a few years to purchase scrap books for each of the kiddos, but alas I didn't get that accomplished. I know that the younger children probably throw their cards away, but the older ones might save them. Last year the almost youngest kiddo--she turned three last year--when she got her card she ran around waving it as if she'd found a treasure. Of course it was the money inside she was excited about, but it was hilarious to see a three year old that excited about money. She didn't even really know what it was, but she's seen siblings...LOL

We are beginning to plan for Easter celebration. Religiously we celebrate the death and resurrection—that fact that Jesus was our perfect sacrifice, symbolized by the unleavened bread (his body, broken for us) and the fruit of the vine (his blood, which was shed for us) every first day (Sunday) of the week. We don't celebrate the Easter day as most of the religious around us do, but we do use it as a time of getting together as family. I confess it tickles me to watch the little people with their baskets searching for brightly colored eggs. I have many ideas of what I'd like to do, such as making little fairy houses and checking out some of the designs on my pinterest for landscaping complete with flowers, paths, trees and shrubs. How fun would that be for our little munchkins.

Another week has begun and with it projects to finish. Last week I started a denim patchwork quilt with the help of my 'handy helper'. I did begin sewing some of the rows together, but need to finish working on that. That will be a major, tied quilt to finish in a few weeks. If I've calculated correctly I have enough projects to last me the next one hundred and fifty years, and someone just gave me a cardboard box of yarn. Hmm, maybe two hundred years? So, for this week, remember to have a good week. What happens to you isn't always in your power, but how you handle it is.

"If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men." (Romans 12:18 ASV)