If at first you don't succeed...

Giving blogging another good try.

At Least it's Not...

Finish that subject line. 

Growing up my mother would begin with those words of encouragement whenever something spilled. As you stood in a puddle of milk with an overflowing cereal bowl you'd here her say "At least it's not oil!" This is because during one dinner hour, years ago, it was. She had set a plastic gallon jug of canola oil on a burner that she presumed was off having forgotten that it had only been that way a short while and was not yet cool. She realized almost instantly and snatched the jug only to have the melted base give way and thoroughly douse the kitchen floor. Needless to say, after hours of clean up the Keeping colloquialism "At least it's not oil" was born. Nothing ever seemed as bad. Not a wet bed, not an overflowed pot of rice, not even a sick cat. Cleaning up oil trumps all.

Yesterday I was speechless. You may not be aware but I love coconut oil; the organic, virgin, cold pressed type. I use it as butter, frying oil and in smoothies. It is my number one healing salve, hand lotion and hair serum. It's a miracle oil around here. And in chilly Alaska, it is solid at room temperature, only melting in your warm hands as you use it. In my haste yesterday and not noticing that the internal temperature of my home had risen to over 75 degrees, I most carelessly opened my jar of miracle and became the subject of an unforeseen anointing. Having promptly ruined my entire outfit I stood in a greasy puddle of tropical goodness with nothing to say. The life lesson adsorbed into my heart and mind as readily as the oil in my cotton skirt and will likely be as permanent. 

The fact is, sometimes it's oil.

Summer's Gone

If I was a bad blogger before summer hit then I didn't really stand a chance did I?

Still, the stink of high bush cranberries is in the air so it must be that time, my favorite time, fall. I get the most schooling, crafting, cleaning, writing, organizing and work done at this time of year! Why is that?

Nevermind! The impending "What Did I do on Summer Vacation" is soon to be materializing in a blog post.

Just as soon as I get done a few more things...

Tennis in Texas

When we were down in Texas Elijah played a mean game of tennis with David. It was great to see the two of them get to know each other better. Thanks for a great game Elijah - even if you did remind him of how out of shape he is! ;-)



Up coming tennis star



not-so-upcoming tennis star



David and Elijah



Happy Birthday Tim!

Prov 23:24-25
The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.

Cinnamon Rolls - requested for breakfast!

We had a great birthday for Tim this year. First a day just with family, eating Tim's favorite foods and then a trip to the library. On the weekend following we rented the gym at the university and played floor hockey. We then came back to the house for pizza and salad. It is such a huge blessing to have a sweet young man like Tim. Life wouldn't be the same without him.

The Clay Pot

Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! a potsherd among the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou?  Isa 45:9

Jeremiah has been busy at his new pottery wheel. This is his first clay pot put to use in my kitchen. Could a Mama have greater treasure than this?

Dried Birthday Flowers in my sweet Pot

Of Little Boys and Laptops

When a little boy with a big imagination wants to be like his daddy, nothing can stop him. A book, lego, block and wet wipe container are all he needs to fulfill his dreams of one day owning his own laptop.

Peter and his computer