Search Results for: blog a few of my favorite things music at home

The Farmer’s Market Part III

When I arrived home from my farmer’s market excursion, my son was crying and relieved to see me. I picked him up and he hugged me tightly. Then I asked him why he was so sad because I had never seen him get so upset when he stayed home with daddy. He told me that he was worried about me when I was at the “market,” as he calls it. Throughout the rest of the day he told me over and over again that he was worried about me when I was gone at the “market.” I vowed to take … Continue reading →

Making Cleaning Fun- Or At Least Tolerable

I wouldn’t say that it’s fun to clean house but if you can’t look forward to it then it should be at least tolerable. I don’t know anyone who wakes up in the morning excited to clean toilets, I know I certainly don’t but I have found ways to make it a little less painful. Over the years of keeping house (29 of them if anyone is keeping track) a few things that I’ve found help make housecleaning more enjoyable. • Music- for me, the louder the better, and something with a good beat. I’ve always listened to country but … Continue reading →

Thrift Stores Rock!

Did you know that there is a great way to save money that can also help you to keep a cleaner house? Your local thrift store can be a great place to get things that you want or need for prices that are better than you could imagine. The thrift store is also a great place to bring items that you have in your home that you no longer want or need, things that are just taking up space and creating clutter. Of course, you may not be able to find everything that you need at a thrift store when … Continue reading →

Lessons Learned The Hard Way: Avoid Oil Paints

I’m a pretty laid back person and encourage my children to always try new things. Not much irritates me or has made me fret over how white my carpets are or how clean the floors are. This peaceful aura was only accomplished after having raised five daughters, mostly on my own. However, several years ago we tried an art project that made me wish I had a time machine that would transport us back to the day before I conceived this bright idea. A fan of the Charlotte Mason method, I loved teaching my children about classical music, books, and … Continue reading →

10 Tips to Break out of the Marriage Rut

Sometimes we in our marriages we can become stuck in a rut. Everyday goes by exactly the same , we do everything exactly the same , we might have meals at the same times, go to work at the same time, go to bed at the same time, even make love at the same times. Marriage can, if we’re not a careful, become ho hum – stuck in a groove and boring. So what can you do about to? Read on and find out. The last couple of days I’ve had a song stuck in my head that won’t go … Continue reading →

Recycling Vinyl Record Album Covers

When CDs first came out, I was reluctant to jump on board. Part of it was that I was just getting older and didn’t like switching to new technology, but it wasn’t entirely that. Part of it was the fact that a vinyl record to me was an experience. The album cover art was big, not all scrunched up in a 5 x 5 inch space. Also, the record sleeve often contained more art, lyrics, or a combination of the two. I know many CDs have lyrics included, but honestly, you almost need a magnifying glass to read them! Just … Continue reading →

Get Your Body and Your Finances in Shape

With the warm weather coming, you might be more conscious of getting your body in shape for a summer full of swimming and lighter clothing. joining a gym can be a great way to do this, but let’s face it, a gym won’t do anything for your finances. Here is how to get in shape or stay in shape while actually benefiting your bottom line. Substitute your feet Make it a challenge to substitute your feet for your car as often as possible. Take a walk or a bike ride to the store if that is feasible. Is the store … Continue reading →

The Best Part of Marathon Training: Tapering

With just over a week to go until the Honolulu Marathon, several of my close friends are entering my favorite part of marathon training—-tapering. In just a few short days my childhood friends will join about 25,000 other runners from around the world to participate in one of the largest marathons in the universe. To prepare for the 26.2-mile trek my friends have been diligently training for months and today marks the last of their major workouts. Let the tapering begin. Studies show that it is now too late for any of them to build up more endurance or speed. … Continue reading →

A Day All to Yourself?

Have you ever said, ‘I just want one day to myself?’ I thought that’s what I was going to have on Friday. Then Thursday night I found out our choir had a concert on Friday at one of the local nursing homes. ‘Oh no, I thought.’ After a crazy week including along with the usual housework and writing project, two other concerts, shopping, and a book launch I was organizing for GROW- UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS – an anthology edited by Anne Hamilton and Lyn Hurry and containing a number of Christian writers that included me, the last thing I … Continue reading →

An Interview with Beth Terrell about Her Dancing Puppy, Luca

People who are active with their pets intrigue me. And when I say active, I mean doing things like doing agility training or enrolling in therapy dog programs. Back in February, I participated on a panel with some fellow Middle Tennessee Sister in Crime authors, one of whom was Beth Terrell. We got to talking about things outside of writing, and she told me about how much fun she’d been having with her little puppy that she got about a year ago. Specifically, she was raving about the puppy dancing classes they’d been taking. I thought that’d make a fun … Continue reading →