I'm Using Everything You Gave Me, Lord

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." 
Erma Bombeck

Yesterday was so busy that I didn't have a chance to write (still catching up from working 5 days straight, had to fill in for co-worker who got married).  Here is a quick run-down of the day. And for those people who say "Wow, you've got it easy just working weekends", please know that when I look at you and smile, I'm really wanting to smack you a good one upside the head!

Feed and water the Wicket (lovebird), clean Lucky's (fish) bowl, clean cat houses and scoop litter, dogs out, dogs in, feed and water dogs.  Clean ceiling fan in garden room, move china cabinet to living room, vacuum house, wash dishes, do laundry (all bedding for cats and dogs), resurrected lawn mower one more time and mowed lane to house. I know, I know.....boring.   I like boring.  After years of dealing with unpleasant people, woman eat woman quotas, and unforgiving time clocks, this is pure bliss for me.

But anyway, while I was doing all that (Had to pause here, tick crawling on my arm, yuck! Nasty little blood suckers!  If you live in Oklahoma you know what I'm talking about, right?) this is what Molly was doing:

Molly says "This is the life. I eat , sleep, poop and the maid
 (that would be me) cleans my house."

I also tried a new roast beef recipe.  If you like cabbage (we do, inexpensive and nutritious), this is a frugal recipe (roast was on sale at Superfoods in Warner) I used and this is the finished product.  Becky said "last night cereal for dinner and tonight pot roast heaven" (We were both too tired to cook).  Feast or famine around here for sure!

Rump roast with cabbage, carrots, onions and a great sauce. 
We loved it.

Today, I put new collars on all the outside dogs.  No easy task I can assure you.  Writhing, squealing, little terrors.  Once the collars were on the pups, they set about trying to rip them off each other.

Gypsy and her pups now have collars! No longer just stray dogs!
They have adopted us.

After a long, stressful day at work and training after work for the 5K run, Becky (the one looking stressed and semi-conscious) and her twin Maggie (dog who thinks she is a princess held hostage by evil magic in a strange body) chill out in garden room watching T.V. while I put the finishing touches on the roast (don't want help with my masterpiece, thank you for asking though--translation:  leave me alone, I'm fine. No, really I'm fine.  Just left of normal is fine in my book).

Becky and Maggie after a long, hard day for both.

My life is really quite wonderful!  I rejoice in my daily chores and thank God that I am healthy enough to accomplish so many things each day.  My cup truly does run over!  I will leave you today with this thought:

Good health and good sense are two of life’s greatest blessings.

I know I have one and can only hope I have the other.  You guess which is which. Thank you for joining me today on my journey to Simple Living.

Harmony Acres In Bloom

Ann Morrow Lindbergh (Gift from the Sea)
I have learned by some experience, by many examples, and by the writings of countless others before me, also occupied in the search, that certain environments, certain modes of life, certain rules of conduct are more conducive to inner and outer harmony than others. There are, in fact, certain roads that one may follow. Simplification of life is one of them.

As if by magic, Mother Nature released her personal color palette upon Harmony Acres, our home.  Each day brings forth surprises unsurpassed by anything the human hand can create.  It is with great joy and anticipation  that I step outside each day to see what awaits me as daylight breaks.  This is what I see:

After a lot of hard work, my rock garden is now ready for a new gazing ball and colorful annuals to be added.

We wanted to plant peach trees this year, so my friend John suggested we plant Red Haven.  I purchased the new trees at Lowe's because they have a one year replacement guarantee.  Now when a friend who happens to own an orchard, gives me advice, I am certainly smart enough to take it!  So, Red Haven it is. Becky also wants to plant blueberry bushes and cherry trees.  Will have to check with John to see how cherry trees do in our area.

Even the birds awake with a song in their heart and a cautious eye on the cats.  Cats seem to have a real problem understanding the 'do no harm" philosophy we have here.  

Pushka hates the "do no harm" rule.  She thinks I won't miss a couple of birds.

On Monday my brother David and his wife Vicky helped me put up a new fence for the puppies. I would have blogged about it yesterday but I couldn't move any part of my body without discomfort (translation:  I hurt from head to toe).  The puppies are so excited to have so much room to run and play.  

I really appreciated their help even more because I know David was in a great deal of pain with his knees (waiting for a knee replacement) and ankles (bone spurs). But they kept their sense of humor. Vicky kept me laughing as she declared over and over again to her husband "you knew when you married me I wasn't a country girl." and I finally told David, "just because I am the one driving most of the poles into the ground doesn't mean we need one placed every two feet." He was enjoying my pain a little too much.  You know how big brothers are.
If you look closely, in the background by the trees you will see a blue tarp.  It is attached to the greenhouse frame which the high winds sent belly up.  Someone (David) took a couple of the stakes out of it when we were building fence on Monday.  There is no sadder site that a greenhouse belly up in the wild rose bushes and timber.  Especially if your the one that has to fight the thorns to retrieve it! 
I have found there is nothing more satisfying at the end of the day than to feel physically exhausted from doing the things that bring joy to my heart, a new song for my soul to sing and pure bliss and harmony to my tattered state of mind.  Simplicity really is a gift!  The Secret:  Do the things that bring you joy and true happiness will follow.  It comes from within not from having the most "toys".

 John Burroughs
To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter ... to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring—these are some of the rewards of the simple life.