It's SO Hard to Wait When Blankie gets a Bath

Snow on the Mountain

While the girls napped I figured I would dig out the long grass and replace with some snow on the mountain that my mom gave us.  My "1-hour" project was easily tripled by snags, but I got it. The previous owners had shoved some lily bulbs in here, but they were overtaken by grass--and not the pretty ornamental grasses. So it looked pretty shabby. 

This spring I dug out most of the bulbs and put into Elizabeth's flower bed.  (I say Elizabeth's bc I would have pulled up the brick boarder and mowed the whole thing over, but she wanted her flowers. ;))

I started to till this, but it got entangled in the blades. So between pulling it 100x's to get it started & stopping to clean it, I stopped to weed wack it first.  That took pulling the weed wacker another 100xs before that started, too!  (Maybe not that many, but my back felt it!)

So I wacked it, and anything else in the backyard since I finally it it started. ;). The I hand-CLAWed it (love that toy!) and then tilled again--much better this time!

Pulled out all the grass by hand and separated the dirt. Pulled weeds from between the foam insulation & the garage and added a little Roundup behind the foam to kill what was there including slugs (ick).  

I then planted the snow on the mountain and Elizabeth watered (had to wake the grumpies up from their naps during this).  Then the babysitter came and helped me dump the weeds into the compost. (Love Karli!!)  Brushed off the dirt, put things away, changed clothes, and went on an anniversary date with hubby. Whew!  My easy-peasy project gone bezerk, but it's don't and it can establish roots before the frost. Hopefully next year this will fill in nicely with some 'snow'.

"I Want it Now"

We are such an immediate-gratification type of society. Plus we are bringing up our next generation this way.  I see how irritated ppl get waiting for a cup of coffee @ caribou, how they squeal their tires at a just-turned-green light, how children use the word "now!" (Mine included).

So what can I do to teach myself patience?  I once prayed for patience. Anyone who does this know that God won't just give it to you, but makes you earn/learn it.  So how do I get it?  "Wisdom + understanding=patience" is what Father Chuck told me to pray for in the confessional.  Whew!  I hoped there was a loophole! ;). 

Father mainly said this when I told him I lose my patience with my family--those I'm suppose to love most & help get to heaven, but this can be applied in many situations.  

Now to pray for self control--might as well pray  for the whole bowl of the fruits of the spirit come to think of it!! 

Dad's Tree

Long but awesome day with the grands

Blinds.com

I listen to Glen Beck & Dave Ramsey occasionally. Both podcasts advertise blinds.com. We ordered and in less than 10 days received 2 new sets of matching vertical blinds for the dining room & living room. (I severely disliked the teal curtains.)  Now it feels as though the two rooms have been brought together. I paid about $90/window and they guarantee a fit or a replacement is sent. Two thrifty thumbs up to www.blinds.com !

Before 

After

Cheap Acoustic Reflectors

My little upstairs tv is at the top of the stairs. If I'm in the downstairs living room I can hear everything because the tv speakers are on the bottom of the tv. 

So after s little research I found acoustic reflectors can be purchased for $30-some bucks. Pfft.  Thinking like my dad I got out the old cardboard, tape, & spray paint and made my own.