Tag you're it!

It's been a while since I've done a meme, for the most part I do appreciate all the awards but then I don't get to pass them on, I feel horrible having to pick just 5 or 3 or whatever.

BUT, this one looks like too much fun to pass up.


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Yesterday Mari who knows how much I love living in My Little Corner of the World came over to tell me about tagging me, I had to smile because sometimes we really do feel like 2 Peas in a Pod.

I'm surprised she even tagged me because we all know that at times I'm 3 Sides of Crazy if I haven't had A Good Cup of Coffee.

But I accepted the challenge, I mean it's just Another Bend in the Road for this Frugal Domestic Goddess who at times lives Life in the Z Lane and somehow ends up Living to Tell the Story but I'm having so much fun doing this tag that I may as well be living Michelle's Family Life even though My Heart is Always Home and I'm always taking it One Day at a Time only sitting back and sometimes watching my Reflections in the Window and thinking about how one day I will be sitting in my porch watching those reflections change to Rocking Chair Reflections.

See it's all in the Simple Beauty of things that make up The Joy of my Heart, so please come on over to this Raggedy Girl's Place and chat with this Frugally Old Fashioned Homemaker.


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This is a new way of tagging people. If you see yourself in the story, consider yourself tagged, but only if you want to participate. If you decide to join, you need to write a story that includes as many blog names as possible. Thank you again Mari for tagging me :)
This was so much fun.

I Love Home!

Image credit: Google

The closer we get to leaving on vacation, the more I realize that even though I enjoy a change of scenery and some time away with the family, there's nothing I hold dearer to my heart, than my home.

I'm such a homebody, no really, I am, I don't think I could be away from home for too long and I'm not one to go out all the time. Actually, come to think of it, given the choice between going somewhere and staying at home, I'll always pick Home.

Home is definitely where the heart is, my heart, my soul. It's where I feel centered and relaxed, safe and comfortable.

I've slowly grown to realize that over the years, I vividly remember before being married, I was constantly out either with friends or working or partying or going to clubs. I remember coming home some nights and laying in bed not even bothering to remove my eye make up, and as I lay there my ears were still zinging with the sounds of the night club and at the time I thought "oh this is just wonderful, I feel content."

My my, how times change. Nowadays I feel content when I have a covered bowl of rising dough to make bread or I walk outside to grab the clothes from the clothesline. Such a different kind of contentment too, I feel so much more rewarded than in my younger nutty days.

Image credit: Google

I think what's also been making me really appreciate what I have is that I'm watching Little House on the Prairie. I'm loving it, not that I never watched it before but it was such a long time ago and I just started receiving the first discs from Netflix. I've watched the first 4 episodes and it struck me how much I long for simpler times.

It's no secret to you all, I've talked about it so many times before.

Watching the Ingalls make a home, their simple decorations and furniture, the way they take such pride of every single belonging they have and how hard they work. Makes me think that sometimes in this technologically advanced period in which we life, we just take things for granted and even worse, we don't even realize just how good we have it.

Unfortunately I also think that having all these things at our disposal only makes us lazier. Now don't go getting all huffy puffy about what I just said, I'm talking about me personally, my feelings and my views. Everyone feels differently.

But yes, home.....Home Sweet Home. The heart of our family, the place we come to when we're sick, when we're sad, when we want to shut out the world and enjoy every second of being with the family.

I don't know, I just love being a homebody, knowing that all the work I do daily is contributing to a happy healthy family.

Isn't that the best feeling in the world?

Happy Homemaker Mondays!

NOTE: Again Mr Linky seems to be having issues. I am sorry everyone, I'll go in and add your names manually and just hope that either Mr Linky finally gets fixed or I can find another script like it.


Good Morning everyone :)

I was writing this post and decided that it was time for a little updated look, as you can see, I made a new banner to use. All you have to do is save the banner to your computer and add it to your posts.

Also if you notice, I added two new entries.....The weather in my neck of the woods and One of my simple pleasures. Hope you like those :)

<a href="http://familycorner.blogspot.com" title="hhm by jasnicmommy, on Flickr"><img width="150" alt="hhm" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3362/3608789834_4d1bac04e0.jpg" height="150" /></a>

The weather in my neck of the woods:
We have actually had a lot of clouds around here lately but no rain. Looks like it's going to be another hot one today, maybe a few scattered clouds to cool things off a little.


One of my simple pleasures:
Making homemade bread, kneading the dough, watching the white flour all over my hands.....makes me think of simpler times.


On my bedside table:
Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind. It's taking me forever with this one, it's quite a thick book and I also haven't been reading it as much, been too busy watching tv LOL


On my TV:
The Tudors Season 3
Robin Hood Season 3
North and South from BBC - ok now it's getting ridiculous, I notice most of the things on this list are being brought over from last week. Pathetic!


On the menu for tonight:
Chicken Fried Steak with Mashed Potatoes, Gravy and Green beans.


On my To Do List:
Post office
Laundry
Write up a list of what I need to pack for the Texas trip


New Recipe I tried last week:
Zippy Dogs....YUM!


In the craft basket:
Dish cloths
Summer tops and dresses


Looking forward to:
A little vacation away from Arizona. I'm sorry, but I really need to get out of here before I burst, there's only so much heat I can take....though Texas is hot too...but I don't know, maybe it's the thrill of a change of scenery plus visiting family AND going to Six Flags?


Homemaking Tip for this week:
When making fried chicken or steak or anything that requires dipping in egg/milk and flour, I always use ziploc bags. I used to do the whole bowl thing but it was such an unnecessary mess, now I just put the liquid in one bag and the flour/breadcrumbs in the other, toss in the food, zip it up and shake it around. Makes cleaning so much easier.


Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
Again, I didn't get around much at all. I feel the like the worst blogger in the world, but I'm hoping to correct that soon.


Favorite photo from last week:
The beautiful full moon outside in my backyard. It felt wonderful just sitting there, looking up and listening to the crickets.

Lesson learned the past few days:
That apparently summer time is making me lazy. I mean really lazy, I find myself prodding along the housework while wishing I could be lazying around. So sad...I need to shape up and realize that there's time for everything.


On my Prayer List:
Family
Curt, while we wait to hear whether he made Tech Sergeant


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

Psalm 33:4-9,18-22

4 For the word of the LORD is upright; and all his work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.
6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle; he put the deeps in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD, let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood forth.
18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19 that he may deliver their soul from death, and keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and shield.
21 Yea, our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.
22 Let thy steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in thee.


1 - Conny
2 - Tamy
3 - Jen
4 - Sandy
5 - They call me mommy
6 - mindingmomma
7 - Linda
8 - Evening Shade Morning Latte
9 - Sandra
10 - Allie
11 - Brook
12 - Sarah
13 - Sherry
14 - Annie
15 - Sarah B.
16 - Kathleen

A day of Books!

I've been reading and organizing my books. You know what I love? Going to the bookshelf and looking through all the books I have on there because I tell you, no matter how many times I do, I always find one I had no idea I had, or completely forgot about.

Now I'm very picky when it comes to getting rid of books, I really don't think I can part with any, especially if they are part of a collection I love, but there are those odd ones that I post on Paperbackswap. Which is what I've been doing today too, the thrill of posting a book and then seeing it requested and knowing that once you mail it off and the person receives it, you will have a credit waiting.

It's that anticipation which I love, though I do get a little nervous, I never know what to get, I guess it's like that with everything in life. You want something when you don't have the means to get it and when you do get the means, you have no idea where to start or what to pick first.

So I guess I'll go try and figure that out, I'm sure it will take a while.

Tell me though, do you use Paperbackswap at all?

Week in Review!

First and foremost, I'm sure you're wondering what is up with all the missing pictures on the blog. Unfortunately I've been using Photobucket but with all the people linking to my pictures and clicking on them etc, the bandwith is exceeded and won't kick in again until the 22nd of this month.

In the meantime I'm going to start using another site for pictures online, I'm so sick of Photobucket doing this, it's very frustrating.

Anyway, here's my week in review, feel free to join in if you wish, but if you do, let me know so I can come and see yours :)



:::BOUGHT

I've been waiting for this game for so long. I'm a huge Sims fan, I like the fact that it's not a violent game and I can just sit at the computer and play house, create a family, decorate etc. It's so much fun. The new Sims 3 just released on Tuesday and I was at the store first thing LOL


:::LOVED

A few nights ago, I let the dogs out for the last time that night, it was around 11:30pm, and I couldn't help but notice how beautiful the sky was. The moon was peeking from behind the clouds, so I took the camera, snapped a picture and then sat there for a few minutes, with nothing but the sound of crickets and the moonlight. It was pure bliss.


:::CHANGED

The way I keep my bread. I haven't used a bread bag in many many years, but lately we've been enjoying home baked bread instead of store bought and there's nothing better than a hot rustic loaf of bread, inside a vintage Bread Bag.


:::WATCHED

The whole Legend of the Seeker and Merlin Series, back to back.



:::STARTED

Summer dresses for Jasmine, I'm actually also taking this pattern above and adapting the dresses as tops for her. I think they'll look really cute worn with shorts or capris.



:::FOUND

The Sword of Truth Series by Terry Goodkind. Ok well I didn't really find them on my own, I heard about them because of the Legend of the Seeker series that are made from the books.
I tracked them down at Paperbackswap and am slowly building my collection.


:::DECIDED

What activities we're doing this summer, signing up kids for swimming lessons and the library reading program, plus a few other day trips.

Also decided to go with the flow this summer and not worry about making plans or schedules.