Friday's Favorite Five's

Spring has arrived.  In fact, the past couple of days have felt as if summer had arrived!  The weather has been a wonderful blessing.  And I found five more blessings besides!

1.   Sunday after church, we spontaneously invited a couple over for dinner that we have never had
      over before.  We had a wonderful time of getting to know each other better.  Isn't it great to make
      new friends?

2.   A friend from work brought me in some duck eggs.  She has three ducks who recently started
      laying.  She knows I have chickens and thought I'd like to try the duck eggs.  I used two of them
      in baking.  They look pretty much the same, except the white is very clear.  This weekend I will
      make my husband and I a nice breakfast and try the rest of those eggs.

3.   Because I have a pregnant goat who is due very soon, I have been spending a lot more time out in
      the goat shed.  It has been wonderful spending time with these fascinating animals!  They are such 
      a joy to be with!  Here is a glimpse of the mama-to-be:

           
I caught her in the act of stealing hay from the loft above their area.  Well, she is eating for two.    Maybe three.

4.   Yesterday I got a lot of much needed yardwork done.  AND I get rid of a lot of
       junk.  I even took it all to the dump.  That way my husband couldn't change his
      mind about getting rid of it!

5.   I had a very relaxing afternoon of baking one day this week.  I wanted to restock my freezer with
     cookies and muffins.  I like to keep baked goodies on hand for when company drops in.  It is
     somehow such a good feeling when the freezer is full!

I hope you , too, had a great week.  Tell me your blessings by joining up here, at Living to Tell the Story,                                
                                                                                  

Planting Time

It's that time of year again!!  Spring is in the air and I want to get my hands in the garden!  Actually, I get the "garden fever" during the dead of winter when I start getting the seed catalogues in the mail.  Two weeks ago I did my first planting.  I planted seeds in containers and have them in front of the French doors in the bedroom.  After only two weeks I already have several nice plants popping up.  Last year was the first year we started plants from seed indoors.  We bought the little seed cups and they quickly outgrew those.  This year, I decided to eliminate those little cups.  It not only saves money, it saves time.  I won't have to repot them when the plants get bigger.  We buy our milk in the gallon-sized plastic jugs.  I cut off the tops, cut slits in the bottom for water drainage, and it makes a wonderul container for my seeds.  I also had a bag of styrofoam cups that someone gave us but we don't use.  So, out they came.  I save coolwhip and sour cream containers to use for leftovers, so I also put some of those to use as planters.  I then placed them all in a plastic sled, which, by the way, got no use this year for lack of snow.  The sled serves to catch the water when it drains after watering the plants.  I planted 25 tomato and pepper plants.  Today I am doing 25 more.  Here is what I have so far:

                   "The Lord God planted a garden."  Genesis 2:8                                                           

Friday's Favorite Five's

Happy Friday everyone!!  List your five favourite blessings from the past week by going here.

1.   FRIENDS    I had a girls' night out for dessert and coffee Monday night.  It was a lot of fun, especially after,
     when I went to the house of one of my friends to extend our conversation.  I truly enjoyed myself.

2.   GIRL SCOUT COOKIES     It's that time of year again : )  Gotta love those cookies!  My favourites are the chocolate peanut butter and the thin mints : )

3.   BOOKS   I am reading a really good book right now about the life of Doris Day.  She is one
       of my all-time favourite actresses.  I love her movies, especially her later ones from the 1960's.

                                                                           

4.   GOOD VISITS   Earlier this week I had an appt. in the town where we used to live, and I stopped in  to see a former neighbor.  We had a really enjoyable visit, and she was so surprised and pleased.  And that made me feel good.

5.   STRAWBERRIES   Yesterday I bought ten strawberry plants.  I'm really looking forward to getting these planted and then reaping the wonderful rewards!!  I see some fresh strawberries in my future!

Now it's your turn.  What were some blessings for you this week?
                                                                                  

The Simple Woman's Daybook

                                  Time to pause and reflect on what is going on in my life at this moment. You can do it too! Just hook up to The Simple Woman's Daybook  and join in.                                            .

Outside my window....the chickens are happily pecking about.

I am thinking....about how much fun I am going to have tonight at a girls' night out for dessert and coffee!

I am thankful....for all the blessings in my life.

In the kitchen....I have homemade wholewheat bread rising and will make a harvest soup for tonight to go with it.

I am wearing....light blue pants and a white turtleneck.

I am creating....the start of my garden.  I planted seeds a few days ago in containers in the house to be replanted in May outside.

I am going....out for dessert tonight!!

I am wondering....where the bone came from that my dog dragged home this morning.

I am reading...."Considering Doris Day."  It's all about...well...um...Doris Day : )

I am hoping....that it is sunny tomorrow as I want to hang my sheets on the clothesline.

I am looking forward to....the birth of our first baby goat!

I am learning....all about birthing baby goats and caring for a pregnant mamma goat and baby.

Around the house....we are working on remodeling my home office.  It is going well. 

One of my favourite things....is being home alone on a quiet afternoon and just "listening" to the quiet and spending time praising the Lord.

A few plans for the rest of the week....working one day this week, going to my favorite thrift shop another day, and having company for dinner Friday evening.

A peek into my day....

                                                            

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Do you suffer with Irritable Bowel Syndrome?  (IBS)  If you do, here are some home rememdies you can try to help alleviate some of your symptoms.

Some IBS sufferers experience diarrhea.  In this case, it is important to drink plenty of fluids to keep from getting dehydrated.  Others suffer with constipation.  Fiber will help to get things moving if this is the case.  If adding fiber to your diet, do so gradually as otherwise it may cause gas and bloating until your body is used to it. 

Peppermint tea may help to calm a nervous stomach, but if you also have acid reflux, you will want to avoid peppermint.  It can make the reflux worse. 

Some things to avoid if you have IBS include milk products, caffeine, fried food, and spicy foods.  It may also help to eliminate sugar, or at least cut back on it.

Learn to control stress and other negative emotions.  Concentrate on your breathing.  Take deep, slow breaths.  After practicing this for a while, it will soon become second nature. 

Fennel and dill have both been known to help ease IBS symptoms.  Eating yogurt, too, is good for IBS.  Our digestive systems need the "good" kind of bacteria that is found in yogurt.  Make sure your yogurt contains live active cultures.  It will say so on the carton.  Not a big fan of yogurt or want to avoid the sugar that yogurt can contain?  Then buy a probiotic supplement such as acidopholus.   This contains the same "good" bacteria.

As always, check with your doctor before taking any herbal supplements.  Some can counteract certain medications.

Friday's Favorite Five's

It's hard to believe another week has flown by!  It was an uneventful week, but I did find five blessings. 

1.  I don't usually work on Mondays, but I did this past week.  I was kind of dreading it as I know that
     Mondays can be busy.  It turned out not to be so bad afterall.  It was an enjoyable day at work. 
     That is always a blessing!

2.  I dropped my digital camera last week and it broke.  I bought a really nice new one yesterday at a
    very reasonable price.  I am very grateful to have a camera again!

3.  We've  had some beautiful spring-like weather the past couple of days.  I spent some time outdoors
    today,  and it sure felt great!

4.  I planted seeds yesterday for 25 tomato and pepper plants.  I planted them in various containers,
    and they are all in front of the French doors waiting to sprout and be replanted outside in May.

5.  I made some blueberry muffins this afternoon from blueberries I had bought at a farmer's market
    last summer and kept frozen.  They sure taste like summer!

                                                                             


   Share your blessings from the past week by visiting Living to Tell the Story and linking up.

Have a great weekend everyone!


                                                                               

Friday's Favorite Five's

Happy March everyone!!  Where I live, March came in like a lion.  We have more snow than we've had all winter.  But it is beautiful.  I had other blessings this week, too, and if you want to participate in telling about your five favorites, click here at Living to Tell the Story and link up.

1.   We now have LOTS of beautiful snow.  It looks like a winter wonderland.  I am thankful that we have a snowblower to deal with all of it!

2.  I bought a new chair for my spare room that is being remodeled.  I found it on Criag's list and got it and a new couch for the living room for an unbelievable price! 

3.  I spend a day on the couch this week.  I've been having some stomach issues and decided to take it easy.  It felt so good reading and relaxing and lazing about.

4.  I watched a favorite old Disney movie - "That Darn Cat."  It was so much fun!!

 5.  I spent a day organizing the shelves in my home office.  Got rid of some stuff and really tidied up those shelves!

Hope you all had a great week .  Enjoy your weekend!