Intentional

That is the name I'm giving this new year, The Year of Intentional.

Intentional means done by intention or design. Conscious, deliberate, intended, knowing, purposeful . . .

My one and only goal for the year 2011 is to live Intentionally, with resolve.

I long to be purposeful and deliberate . . .

In prayer.

In thought.

In speaking.

In action.

In loving.

In fully living each moment.


“Time is a relentless river and it rages on, respecter of no one.
And the only way to slow time is this: Enter fully into the current moment and the stream of time slows — slows — with the weight of a soul’s full attention.

We slow the torrent by being all here.

Life at its fullest is this sensitive, detonating sphere, and it can be carried only in the hands of the unhurried and reverential—a bubble held in awe.”

~ One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

Choose Joy

If you have spent any time around our little patch of earth over the past few months, you'll have heard J or me say, "choose joy." A lot. Thanks to one little girl who has been choosing grumpy and angry a lot of the time.

We talk a lot about God giving us joy in every moment if we choose to find it. Even when we don't feel it.

I read a post this morning about worshiping in our work. That in everything we do, if we do it with joy, we are worshiping our Lord. Worship doesn't require Sundays or singing, just choosing to do the task at hand with a joyful, worshiping heart.

News? Not really, but a really great kick in the rump. Motivation to stop talking about God giving us joy in every moment and start living every moment with holy joy.

Are you motivated to live every moment in joy?

Sunset Walk on the Farm

We took a walk at sunset hoping to get a closer look at the does. Turns out clomping little boots do make them run.

Does in the hay field :: Shadow fun :: Autumn sun :: Running. Just because :: Grass angels, Mamma :: Shrooms :: Self-portraits :: Western entertainment :: Ute Sunset :: Do you see the rainbow?

Jammin'

Strawberry Jam . . . with pectin this year. I don't like it as well as the pectin free from last year, but it will do.

Low light Phone pic--lousy quality. :o)

A Hippie & Some Pickle Love :: July 1

Last night we stopped at the House of Satan (aka: Wal-Mart) for a couple of things. J spotted an empty express check-out line, so I scooted over while he took Pickle to get a mini-cone from McDonald's. The young checker scanned the first couple of items and tossed them in a plastic bag. I told her I had a bag in my purse that I'd get for her. While she waited, she picked up the four boxes of Annie's Naturals Mac n Cheese left on the counter and looked back up at me as I shook out my bag. Her eyes got big and she said, "Are you like, a hippie?" Um, no.



Pickle Love :: July 1

*You end at least half of your sentences with, "Well, then . . ." as if you're going to continue. No idea why.
*You have begun sounding through and phonetically spelling words to accompany your drawings. On. Your. Own. Um, hello child. What are you going to leave for me to teach you?
*When you don't get your way, or we choose to end a conversation, you sigh the biggest sigh you can muster, shake your lowered head and say, "Well, then. I just don't know what to say. I just don't know what to say or do-oo." Such drama.
*Whenever you break something, you say, "Well you can just make a new one, Mamma." Oh, Baby, I wish I could just make a new everything!

My favorite conversation of the day:

Me: Why don't we sit down with your new knitting needles and wool. I'll show you how to hold your yarn and you can help me make a few stitches.
P: I don't want to.
Me: I thought you really wanted to learn how to knit now that you're four.
P: *SIGH* (with much, much drama) I do Mamma. Just not today. (hands held out to the side, elbows bent-like a W- bouncing up and down with each syllable)


July Header is up!

Racing the Rain

Confession: I like to mow the yard. It could have something to do with our fancy mower. Or the freedom to let my mind wander. It's like kneading dough by hand.



My favorite time to mow is as a summer storm is rolling in. The smell of freshly mown grass. The breeze. The smell of rain. Yum. Probably one of my favorite summer activities of all.



Today the score stands thus: Me~1, Summer Storm~0. I beat it by 15 minutes.



~New header up for June~

Peanut Butter

Deb asked me about the frugality of making peanut butter a while back, so I bought some roasted, salted peanuts the next time I was at Sprouts so that we could check it out.

That was at least a few weeks ago, so I have no idea how much they cost. Oh, and I forgot to weigh them before starting, so as for the frugality of it, I have no idea. But Pickle thought it was fun and she loved the surprise of tasting it and realizing she'd made peanut butter!



About 3 1/2 cups of roasted, salted peanuts
Kosher salt to taste

We like chunky peanut butter, so we held out about 1/2 cup peanuts.

Place peanuts in food processor. Pulse until peanuts are very small. Turn processor on and process until it looks like peanut butter. Add salt and process until well mixed. When it tastes right, add back reserved peanuts and pulse until they're as chunky as you'd like.

We had processed the peanuts a bit before I remembered to pull some out for the chunks, so ours wasn't as chunky as I'd have liked.

This yielded right at 2 cups of peanut butter, which is exactly the amount in the jar of peanut butter we normally buy. Now I just need to remember to check the price of peanuts & jarred peanut butter. :o)



All pictures taken w/point & shoot, no flash. The close-up is courtesy of the Pickle.

These Things ::

:: make me happy.

~Buffalo Beans to remind me of Grandaddy

~Poppies to remind me of childhood

~Photos straight out of camera that look this cool

~Daddy's eye for posing the Pickle Girl

The View :: March 11th

From the pic-nick blanket.

From my camera.

From hers.

Thrifting Score

I drove to this campground (nearly 500 miles one way) twice in 2009.

I drove to our local Good Will (18 miles one way) once in 2010.

Pickle declared we had to buy it. It was our one $4 purchase of the day, that has made me smile countless times since.

New header is up for February--click over if you're interested. Or if you just want a laugh.

Motivated

I felt motivated today. I actually washed a whole sink full of dishes, two pots and cleaned the stove top. That's more than I've accomplished at one time in 12 days. I'm wiped out.

I've been sick. For 14 days. So far. I don't dare say I'm well for fear I will just get worse.

It started mid-day on the 23rd, but I ignored it.

By mid-day on the 24th, I'd acknowledged it, but pushed through.

By mid-day on the 25th, I'd all but given up.

Things slid by the way-side and honestly, it didn't matter. (Does it ever?) That doll quilt for the stocking? It will be a "Because I love you little girl!" gift, hopefully to be finished by the end of the week. That carrot cake for Jesus' birthday? Maybe we'll have one in celebration of Him rising from the grave. Papa Herman's buttermilk pie? Valentine's Day, maybe.

I think maybe this has lingered on so long to prove to me that the dishes will get done (thanks, J) and the doll quilts will not be missed. That sweet treats are welcome any time and that making memories is often more important than capturing photos of them with the camera.

I hope you are blessed with times of quiet in this new year. Times to observe life as it happens around you, to impress memories on your heart. Oh, and some horribly screechy 'flute' music. Everyone deserves that.

It would seem . . .

that you need an Operating System to, you know, operate your computer system. Go figure.

According to the resident computer expert my desktop's operating system breathed it's last sometime in the night this past Tuesday. Funny thing is that I do all blog/photography related stuff from the desktop with the fancy monitor and good lighting. So, no operating system, no blogging. No operating system, no photo editing.

J got new software on Friday and installed it Saturday night. Unfortunately the Pickle and I woke up with colds on Sunday. We're starting to feel human again, so I thought I'd check in.

Finally, because a post is just not complete without a photo:


Man, I wish I were there again!

Busy

New equipment.


That turned this


into this.


B /b/ Bear Paws


Grrrrrr!


Doing school.


Figuring out how to get any work done with this on my desk.

Finally Fall

Crisp mornings.
Temperate afternoons.
Finally.

Snapshots :: Interrupted

I read this post a few weeks ago and decided to try making my own brown sugar the next time I made cookies.

That would be today. (Oatmeal chocolate chip with toffee bits and coconut. Mmmm. One of my favorites.)

The best thing: my hands still smell faintly of molasses. One of my favorite autumn-y, wintry smells.

Today is the Autumnal Equinox. Did you know?

So, I suppose, something deep inside of me was wanting to celebrate today by digging my hands into a bowl of molasses and sugar.

What did you do to celebrate?

Snapshots :: Grandad's Meadow

I suppose, if I were given the chance to choose the last place I'd be here on earth before going home to Heaven, I'd choose the mountains too.


This is the tree we were camped under when Grandad left this earthly place for his eternal home.


This is his meadow.

Snapshots :: Volunteer Canyon

For many, the phrase "Old Stomping Grounds" brings to mind the places they hung out or ran around with their friends in grade school or high school.

For me, this phrase immediately brings me to this place.

Volunteer Canyon and the surrounding area is where I spent so many wonderful days with my Dad and Grandad hunting and hiking and thoroughly enjoying each others company and the glory of God shining through all He made.

I hadn't been back here since Grandad died. Returning was bitter-sweet, but I'm so glad we did.

Perspective and a Preview

I did my first-ever newborn photo session this morning and gained a little perspective on the way.

When my sweet friend agreed for me to come photograph her beautiful baby girl, I was overjoyed.

Then the doubts and questions started trickling in.

Will the photos turn out? Am I good enough to do this? Am I crazy for thinking I can really do this? Will my backdrop stand fall over on the baby? Why would anyone trust me to take photos of their baby?

Basically, me, me, me.

I went from overjoyed to overanxious.

Humanity. It fits like a glove.

***

I arranged to have our niece come over yesterday to stay with Pickle this morning. I got all my props loaded in the truck last night. I charged up my batteries. I got my camera bag packed. I set my alarm. I went to bed.

As the fear and questions were running amok in my head last night, it hit me: "Hey, I should turn this over to God." Yes, I know, I'm brilliant that way.

I lay my anxiety at the foot of the throne and had a great night's sleep.

When I woke up this morning, however, I decided that maybe God was busy and I should just snatch my little package of anxiety back before He could open it.

***

I was a bundle of nerves driving out to my friend's house this morning, so I flipped the iPod to Kathryn Scott and was listening to the song Thank You For the Cross. I sent J a text telling him I was on my way and to please pray for me.

I sent the text and turned onto the highway that takes me to the freeway. No sooner had I made that right hand turn did I look to the east and see this:


It hit me like a ton of bricks.

Why, oh why am I even remotely concerned about my abilities when I know that before the foundation of the world God knew my name, where I would be born, the choices I'd make and most importantly, he knew the plan he had to save me. Me. The sinful girl who often can't see past the end of her own lens.

I love how He cares about the details--that song, that sunrise at that exact moment of self-indulgent, self-centered anxiety all coming together to remind me how minuscule are the things that I often fret over the most.

So, I stopped on that semi-truck laden highway, hit the flasher button, ran to the back of my truck, whipped out my camera and snapped a few photos of those amazing Jesus Clouds.

I think I'll print this one out to give me a bit of perspective when I get overcome with self. I need daily reminders to live for Him with each moment he has graced me with. You?

***

Now, for a preview.

This is just a taste of what's to come--when I finish editing these, I'll post a link here to my photo site.

Sweet newness . . .


Mother love . . .

Holy Hannah, It's Hot!

So, since we seem to have entered our annual monsoon/muggy season a bit early this year, it's not only ranging in the 100-teens, but the humidity is up to boot!

We had an inch of rain at our house on Tuesday--we woke up to an absolute downpour about 3:30 in the morning which netted us about 1/2 inch and then had another surprise storm dump a half inch on us that night. As usual, our little section of the neighborhood (about six block total) was without power for a couple of hours.

So, we lit some candles, opened the windows and I, of course, knitted by candlelight. (Keep an eye out for that furry thing I'm working on in a future newborn photo session.)


Then Daddy had the brilliant idea to drive around to find the power-line repairman and gauge his progress while sipping milkshakes at 10:00. Pickle decided to try strawberry. She liked it.

You've gotta love a spontaneous Daddy!

~If you use a reader, click over to check out my new header!~

The Fourth

Available from Phantom Fireworks

By Shel Silverstein

Oh

CRASH!

my

BASH!

it's

BANG!

the

ZANG!

Fourth

WHOOSH!

of

BAROOOM!

July

WHEW!