It's All About the Green

Benjamin is growing very fast and this apron will fit before we can wonder how time has disappeared!

He received it at this fun & informative event held at CSCC yesterday. 

Their college has zero energy cost and wants the community to know ways they can contribute to Earth's "sustainability".

We all had a fun day together.  Most of the smiles we captured were of "The Boy"!

You have to see the entire shirt because it is a true statement.

Benjamin's dad (our sweet son-in-law) set up this booth for his work.  His department "manages the quality of stormwater runoff from the stormwater drainage system . . . to protect its citizens from this type of water pollution".  He has great people skills and does well educating others.

The booth in the picture below had many honey products - - and a display (between glass) of a live bee hive. As you can see, Benjamin was more interested in looking at the poster rather than being the face of it.  (The pictures where his face is in the right position are shadowed by where I was standing.)  This shot is more fun anyway.  It shows his inquisitive nature.

I got pictures of all of us except our two daughters.

 

This location was above the vendor displays.  Bill and I had just finished a snack lunch.  It was the quiet time in between the rain water barrel classes.

 

The weather was perfect - - a beautiful sunny day without being too warm.  It is one of the very few wonderful days we get between winter and hot, hot summer.

As you can see, the trees are getting their leaves.

This week azaleas and dogwoods are in bloom.

 

 If you haven't ever attended this event, consider it for next year.  In addition to the free items distributed by the vendors, you can learn some tips on being better stewards of the resources God has provided for us.
. . . . . . God said to them, ". . . . .  have dominion over . . . . every living thing that moves on the earth."Genesis 1:28

Seasons

Was it only last week when it was a bit cool?

Benjamin was fascinated watching the wind blow through the grass.
(If he looks tired, it is because it was only minutes away from nap-time.)

This week we are in short sleeves and even shorts since it is in the low 80s today and tomorrow!  This morning, I was cleaning the garage area.  Benjamin was happy in the Exersaucer standing and watching me, the cat, the trees - - - whatever caught his attention.

 

This is the time of year for consignment sales for children.  They are held in the spring and autumn.  Both of the sales we go to are managed by friends from church.  This one is open this entire week.

 

Grammy needed to build up her stock of toys and as you can see, I was successful.  I found Fisher Price, Little Tykes, V-Tech, and Leap Frog items.  I don't know who enjoys this stuff more - - - Benjamin or Grammy and Pop Pop!

 We have been quite busy around the house this past weekend and week - - but I plan to go back and get your blogs read - - and hopefully will post a bit more - - even if it's only a little bit.  I enjoy doing those things so need to find time for them!

. . . . a word spoken in due season, how good it is!  Proverb 15:23b

SWEET!

These coconut cakes were on display at our locally-owned grocery store.  I was there late Friday afternoon.  One of the bakery workers was nearby so I asked, "Will you be able to sell that many cakes?"  She replied that they had refilled the display twice just that day!  That's a lot of sweetness!!!

Even sweeter is what our Lord Jesus did for us in His life, death, and resurrection.  His love for us lives on in the lives of His precious servants.  Two of these persons were precious to me and I want to tell you about them.

Both were librarians and "bloomed where they were planted".  Both left this earth within the last few months.  (The bookshelf pictures were not theirs but some I 'pinned' on my Pinterest page.)

Florence was 105 when she died.  She moved to our city at age 94 to be close to her family.  She worked in our church library until she was 97 when she determined it was time to retire.  Until the day she died, she had a teachable spirit regarding her spiritual life - - - always asking how the Lord could use her and what He wanted her to learn.  Florence was a precious friend who touched more lives around the world than we have space to print.

Sandy was a recent acquaintance who also served in her church library with a passion.  We met when she visited our staff for some suggestions for their ministry.  Her church now has a nice library location with many books because of the hours she worked - - - before her cancer came back.  The last words she spoke were not to her family - - but to her successor as she was giving the new library director directions on how to process the books.

Wooden ladder bookshelf.  Wouldn't this be fun for a fireman or construction worker in their workplace or home?

When you choose to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this world, it is truly an honor and privilege - - whether it is at a church or a secular job or in your home.  Do others see the difference Easter has made in your life - - in your actions, attitude, and love - -- without them knowing you attend church?

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.    Matthew 5:16

Green Games!

The rocking horse is solid wood.  The cat is real.  She wanted to be the center of attention so knew where to stand.  The horse only cost $10.  (Ten dollars!)  The cat has cost us more than that in the last 13 years!

 

I bought the horse and these other toys at the Bows to Toes Consignment Sale.  There are only two days left to shop.  These toys are in EXCELLENT shape.

In these days of conserving resources, recycling, etc. - - - shopping consignment is one great option to employ.

 

Of course, these were purchased for Benjamin.  In this picture he is chewing on an ice cube to help those gums feel better while cutting teeth.  The bottom two have broken through.

 

As one of his sleepers says - - 

 

If you think you need to see one or two more pictures of him, his mom has them posted HERE.

 

Hast thou given the horse strength?  Job 39:19a

Preoccupied with Pinterest!

Gift Tags made from Embossed Paper

 

Life has settled into a nice routine.  I am even able to find some time to do a few little projects around the house.  Nothing big yet - - saving that for when Benjamin is home with his Mom during the school breaks.

Shaving Cream & liquid watercolors used to dye eggs.  I don't know what they would look like when dry - - if they would have texture or not.  According to the instructions, shaving Cream was smoothed out on a cookie sheet.  The paint was added and "pulled" through the cream to create the patter and then the egg rolled through it.

Obviously I have found time to browse on Pinterest - - and "pin" the things of "interest" to me.  There are some really clever ideas out there.  I haven't tried most of what is pinned but have just started looking around.

Fence made from wheels.

 

Ivory Soap "cloud" made in microwave.  You are supposed to be able to put it back in liquid form; add food coloring; and put it in cookie cutter forms to make "shaped soap".  My daughter and I wondered if the soap smell will linger in the microwave - - and how long.  Would you taste it in the next food dishes you heat up?

One of many islands made from dressers.  I saw another with two of the same dressers attached back-to-back to create a larger island.   I like the originality.

Has anyone tried this idea shown below of the babies in the laundry basket in the tub?  It keeps their toys near them and is supposed to keep them from tipping backwards and hitting their head on the tub.  Of course, you still sit there and supervise the baby the entire time.

Put a towel in the bottom to make it less slippery.

If a person had a level yard and wanted to build up their leg muscles - - - this is pretty creative.

 

Marble races with swimming pool "noodles".

 Another thing I saw you could do with these noodles is notch them and use them like Lincoln Logs to build "forts" and "houses".

2 liter bottle (with holes) attached to a garden hose.  Use for children's play or watering flowers.

It's nice to have a couple of weeks of - - - plain 'ole routine with nothing major going on.  

For by him were all things created , that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:  Colossians 1:16

LOVE-ly Week!

Some weeks feel like you are continually going uphill!

Remember I told you in the last post that our neighborhood is hilly.   Our house is at the top of the hill.  This is just part of my walk.  I can actually feel that my "core muscles" have been strengthened this week.  It feels like I have done bunches of sit-ups!

 

 One day we saw all these cobwebs in a wooded area.  That is not a usual occurrence.  They looked quite pretty though with the sunlight reflecting off of them.

Benjamin and I were pleased to find time to take our daily walk because there had been a lot of activity at our house.  We discontinued our Charter TV-Internet Service and switched to DirecTV and Uverse.  We had no complaints with Charter other than the price for the amount of stations offered.  Every second year the cost goes up.  The only way to keep it constant is to drop some stations.  My husband has mentioned to them it is not a good way to treat loyal customers.  The deciding factor was when a buddy of his became a new customer of Charter and got a much better package for much less money than we are charged.  Our monthly bill with our new providers is almost half as much as it has been in the past.

Long story short, we had service men here four or five different days in one week.  This was in addition to our kitchen oven burning out a few days earlier and my husband's car breaking down and being in the shop for a couple of days.  (Car is fixed.  Stove is probably going to have to be replaced.  It's old - needs a new wiring harness which has been discontinued cuz the stove is old!  For safety's sake, we will shop for a new one - - but there is no rush.)

As you can see though, life went on as normal for Benjamin!  He added some additional cuteness with this outfit!

His Nana (paternal grandmother) bought this for him.  Yes, that is the mascot, Smokey, on the hood.

This past week has been almost a vacation with only Benjamin here and not a bunch of technicians, etc.   Plus I received a nice gift in the mail from Buttercup!  Thank you, Carol!

Hope this week is LOVEly for you!   Tell someone or a bunch of someones how much you LOVE having them in your life!

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  Matthew 22:37

 

ME

I made Grammy VERY HAPPY today because I said her name!!!   Well, part of it anyway.

At lunch Pop Pop asked me to say, "Grammy" and I uttered sounds that made them believe I had mimicked them well. 
However, when I woke up from my nap, I called, "Me" . . . . "Me" . . . . "Me" and then I was looking at Gram---MEE beaming at me!   She said, "You called Grammy, didn't you?"   She seemed very pleased with no words for an answer but just another big smile from my Pack 'n' Play.  It's amazing how she and Pop Pop become my servants with just a smile!

 

As you can see, I am growing into a future football player.  (My hips aren't really that big - - - It's just the way the fabric has fallen.)  I, Benjamin, am now 6 1/2 months old and as tall as an average 9 month old.  Grammy says I give her quite a strength-training workout.  My thought is all women her age need that kind of exercise to help increase their bone density.

 I try to help Grammy as often as possible since I can now hold my own bottle (that is filled with my mommy's milk).  I do like to be in control of my actions and schedule when the adults will allow it.  In addition to a couple of bottles, my diet includes fruits and vegetables.  Every few days, my taste buds experience something new!

 Grammy reads books (recommended by my "mamamamama") that give her ideas on how to "guide me toward my potential".  One idea was to put my toys in a clear plastic box and I could have the option of choosing.  My thought was just pick up the whole box and chew the bottom of it.

  Grammy thinks fresh air is important, too - - - no matter how cool it is outside.  That's great because I love strolling around the neighborhood.  The tall, tall trees fascinate me and Grammy's labored breathing as she climbs the hilly road is funny.  She keeps telling me how much she loves me and is excited every morning when she sees me again.

 

  And here is one of my favorite friends even though she won't let me pet her but Kit Kat will get close enough to talk to me with her eyes.  She likes me and acts like a guard dog.  Somebody needs to tell that sweet kitty that Grammy and Pop Pop are thinking about getting a dog for me at their house next fall.  I know that Pop Pop is using me as an excuse for him to get another "man's best friend".

  

 Grammy wants you to know that all the pictures were taken with her phone.  My Mommy has time to get pictures with her camera and post them on her blog but Grammy hasn't mastered all that yet!  She always has her phone close by but not her camera.  Plus she doesn't seem real thrilled when I try to grab for the camera.  My thought is anything near me is a toy for me - - right?!!

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother  2 Timothy 1:5