Pumpkins and Crows

Its that time of year when cobwebs creep up in front yards and felt spiders the size of preschoolers cling to the sides of trees. Grocery stores are bursting at the scenes with bagged candy and costume advertisements make people blush.

I'm not really that into Halloween--I mean the bats and ghosts side of things-- but don't get me wrong, I love this time of year. There's something in the air that makes October just plain fun. Its a time when its perfectly OK to nibble on handfuls of candy corn and blast the Phantom of the Opera from the CD player. (side note--who would have thought you could Jazzercise to the Phantom? Our instructor put together a spooky set for us and I had no idea what the motions were so when in doubt, keep bouncing--and hope no one notices you. And...try not to fall down the stairs. I have a bad habit of standing in front of the stairwell. I've had visions of myself sashaying my way to a rather abrupt demise.)

What was I talking about? Oh yeah, pumpkins and crows. So I love pumpkins on my front porch. I've also developed a little fascination for crows this fall. Not in a scary way, more like the Nanny McPhee kind of way. You know. Cute. But not creepy. I don't know what it is about October--fall is just my favorite time of year. It makes me happy. There's something about living in Southern California that makes one appreciate cold weather. The other day it was pouring and my one and three-year olds were playing on the front porch, soaking wet, happy as tadpoles after a drought. And me? I was sitting in the doorway--trying not to get wet--reading a book. I know, we're weird about rain.

I've already made my first pumpkin pie cake of the season, every morning there's a fire in our wood burning stove and more often than is good for the 'ol waistline, there's a pot of homemade popcorn crackling away on the stove top. (We don't have a microwave but even if we did, it would still be the best way to do it.) We like ours in olive oil with a drizzle of butter and salt. And if we're going all out, homemade cherry cokes with grenadine and maraschinos. Yum! Its the way my dad did. Its the way his dad did it. If it ain't broken...

Yay for October :D

Adventures in Country Living: Shuckin' Corn

We tried to grow corn last year. But after about $40 dollars worth of city water, a million weeds pulled, and all our hopes and dreams riding on the possibility of those golden kernels ready for harvest, my husband and I plucked two, pitiful cobs from the garden that went straight into the compost. Sigh. And since Costco sells organic corn for $4.99 a bag, we decided to go the modern route this year.

But, a friend of mine had an incredibly successful crop and with baby number five on the way, she felt a little overwhelmed by the crates of fresh picked corn on her back porch, so in a moment of near insanity, a few of us girls volunteered to join her in a corn shucking day. The kids loved it. While we tugged off the husks, filling a Red Rider wagon (my husband just reminded me that was a gun not a wagon. I suppose they are more commonly known as Radio Flyers. oops :D) to the brim, one lucky boy got to haul it away. Where it went each trip, I have no idea, but that's the nature of four-year-olds and we'll take whatever help we can get :) Even the littlest kids joined in and with the mommies seated in white rocking chairs, surrounded by homemade cinnamon rolls and hot coffee, the work was rather pleasurable--and the sleeping cat--no that's not a country calendar your looking at.

You know its organic corn--straight off the stalks--no chemicals involved, when the kids are huddled around the glass jar of corn worms, begging to be the one to dump it into the chicken coop. Now, for a former city girl, this would have normally made me squirm, but since I have been inducted into the world of country living--dirt under my fingernails, camo in my closet and all--this did not bother me as much as I expected. Although I must admit, I am deathly afraid of bugs. Rattlesnake...who cares? Crouching tiger...walk in the park. But pair me against a mosquito eater, and I'm pale as a ghost, screaming my head off--arms flailing. My husband thinks its funny.

So while my friends were not afraid to simply pluck the worms from the corn, I, in my citified way, gently tapped the corn cob against the jar. Plunk. Worm removed. No touching required. (I guess some things never change.)

Many hands make quick work and in no time, we hauled the corn into the kitchen and after slicing it off the cobs, blanched it and packed the ready-to-freeze corn into gallon bags. Its amazing how time flies when there's work to be done. We said our goodbyes and while still finding corn kernels stuck to the oddest places, I tucked my tired toddlers (with dirt caked to their Carhartt overalls) into the car and it was back down the dusty road, headed for home. Another day. Another project.

Happy Homesteading! And Happy Harvest!

A Meek and Quiet Spirit

Twice a month I get together with girlfriends of mine and as our ever growing quantity of children play in the yard, we spend a few hours sipping tea, eating homemade cinnamon rolls and talk about whatever book we're reading together. Right now, we are reading Homeschooling With a Meek and Quiet Spirit by Teri Maxwell. What a blessing this book is! And you don't even need to be a home schooling mom to appreciate it!

In her book, Teri describes a meek and quiet spirit--basically meaning, that as mothers, we should strive to be calm, patient and loving as we raise our children--not prone to anger or frustration. For me, it's been an interesting journey--a journey that has changed my life and our whole home. In trying to focus on keeping a meek and quiet spirit with my children, I have seen such changes in my life and I know that my children are the better for it.

But not only does Teri share how we can gain a meek and quiet spirit, she also explains how easy it is to lose one. Yikes! The biggest stumbling block for me: disorganization.

Am I the only mother who has walked into a messy room or passed a junk drawer only to have their blood pressure rise? Ack! Is there no end in sight? Suddenly, the frustration kicks in and our patience and joy---uh, hello? Where did it go?

We're left feeling hopeless.

I have been that person...trying to prepare dinner with a stack of bills at my elbow and a pile of dirty laundry under my feet. So yes, disorganization can be a robber of a meek and quiet spirit.

So what's the solution? I've followed Teri's advice and created a daily schedule. Her schedule is much more detailed than mine, but for now, mine is working very well. I printed it up on a monthly calendar and its taped inside my computer cabinet, a place this writer mama spends a lot of time (hehe). Every day I have only three requirements. Just three things that MUST be done, no exceptions. 1) Bible time with the kids. 2) A chore 3) My son's homeschooling. That's it, pretty simple!

And there is a reason why I have chosen these three tasks.

The homeschooling is a given. My son is still three so we spend about ten to fifteen minutes a day working on letters, numbers or a craft (In an organized, sit down manner). It's just enough time for squirming limbs to sit still, then he's off to play like a rocket. I say organized manner, because he's learning all day long: While we work in the garden, moving firewood with Grandpa, etc.

By including Bible time into our schedule, I can finally carve time out of my day to read the Word and the kids are looking at the pictures in their Bibles along side me. We usually do this before the baby naps as it tends to relax her. We sit for about fifteen minutes on the couch and it doubles as practice for the kids to learn how to sit still. They join us at the beginning of church and have learned to sit through worship pleasantly, then they skip of to nursery for the second half. Also, I had to go to the DMV the other day, and they sat ever so nicely by my side. It was delightful!

One chore is pretty self explanatory. Although we mom's basically clean from morning 'til night, I like to have one important task that must be done each day (I have one day for the bathroom, another for clearing away papers and filing them away, etc.) Thursdays remain open for what I call my "meek and quiet spirit robber day." Whatever around the house is driving me the craziest, gets penciled into that day. My daughters un-closable closet and dresser have been eating at my nerves so I penciled it in last week and today, I completely eliminated the mess...and that meek and quiet spirit robber is no more! Yay! It's a great feeling ;) And my meek and quiet spirit robber chore for next week...let's just say that there's a Land Rover in my driveway that's going to have a showdown with a crazy writer and her shop vac.

But surprisingly enough, there is one task that is not on my schedule...writing. I could write all day if given the chance, but then my children would be running around like wild Amazonian monkeys. I've struggled with this in the past and finally prayed for God to send me a solution. Then somehow, because my schedule is keeping me organized and on track, I have time to write every single day, usually during nap time and it's been a blessing. That worry is lifted from my shoulders and I no longer fear that my writing is taking away from all the other things I should be doing as a stay-at-home-mom. So although I kept my favorite hobby off the schedule to keep it from becoming too much of a priority, the time for it simply fell into place. :)

For more on Teri Maxwell and Homeschooling With a Meek and Quiet Spirit, check out: Titus2.com

Change in Blog Schedule

Chatty Kathy here letting you all know that since I have an incurable habit of writing blog posts long enough to be short stories, I'm going to be spacing out my posts from weekly to about every ten days.

Between looking after my children and working on my third novel, there just aren't enough hours in the day so to keep this issue from becoming a meek and quiet spirit robber, I've marked my calendar just like I would have if I were posting every Wednesday, and I plan on keeping with the new schedule. So what's a meek and quiet spirit robber?...See you this Friday with a new blog post!

Tummy Butterflies and Book Proposals From The SDCWG

This past weekend was the San Diego Christian Writer’s Guild annual Conference—a great place to meet publishers, agents and other authors. We word-nerds tend to get stuck having coffee with our keyboards and characters every day so it’s a refreshing change to hang out with fellow writers who are pursuing the craft of writing and using their gifts for the Lord.

The conference was great this year. Attendees had the pleasure of hearing speakers and authors such as Miles McPherson (Former San Diego’s Charger and Pastor), Lynn Vincent ( New York Times Best selling author. Her collaborative projects include Going Rogue and Same Kind of Different As Me) and many more.

For writers, these conferences are a lot of time spent waiting and preparing for the big day to arrive, then a burst of everything happening at once. That can be very overwhelming. I, for one, was so nervous about my faculty consultation with an agent from one of the best agencies in the biz, I could hardly eat breakfast. And it was a cinnamon roll! But I did force myself to take a few bites and after talking to others around me, I knew I was not the only one who’s nerves were jippity (is that a word? It should be).

So how do we process these moments? How do we let go of our book proposals, while remembering the hours we’ve spent putting them together, and all the times we googled "how to write a book proposal." Not to mention, the months, sometimes years devoted to the shaping of our books, only to have a few minutes to impress an agent or editor with our brilliant pitch and top notch sample chapters. Uh…no pressure.

I was ready to get home, put my feet up, toss my writing portfolio on a VERY high shelf and hang out with my family. But I was in my car, on a highway, and home was a few hours away. Then, while flipping through the radio, I landed on a Christian station and my favorite song was on. It goes something like this: “Savior, He can move the mountains. My God is mighty to save.” So there I was, feeling my energy trickle back and I sat up a little straighter. That’s right, I thought. God can move mountains.

Sometimes we get blessed and the mountain just happens to be our dream come true. Those are special moments in life! Other times, I believe the mountain is our perspective. How many times in life does the situation change completely, not because the dishwasher stopped leaking or the baby magically changed her own diaper, but because our perspective…our attitude changed. Some of the greatest stories I’ve ever read did not end with the protagonist getting exactly what he or she wanted, it ended with the protagonist learning the valuable lesson they were meant to learn—to rely on God.

The Critique Group And The Writer

I'm rather behind on getting more book reviews up and I have several in line to read, but the post office and I are not very...in sync lately. I either smack into the glass doors with the "closed" sign firmly in place, or I beg the postmaster that even though I don't have my collection slip, I know there are packages back there waiting for me. He tries to look, then with an arched eyebrow suggests I return with the collection slip that makes his life a lot easier. Oh well. But I have something that has been brewing in my mind lately, and I'd like to share it with you this week.

Its about the power of the critique group and how it effects the writer. Now, if you're not a writer...if you don't throw abbreviations like "CBA" and "WIP" around in general conversation, you might think this does not apply to you. Even if you're not a writer, there may be a lesson you will glean from this, so stick with me. But if you get bored, you could hop over to another blog, pull up a really good brownie recipe and bring it back here. I'd be very grateful. I have a pot luck coming up.

So back to the critique group. What is that exactly? A critique group is a place where writers get together, pass around a few pages of what they've been working on, and the other folks in the group whip out their pens and mark it up. Its intimidating. Even after attending a group for years, my heart rate quickens as the room silences, heads bowed over my chapter. Nail biting to the max.

But when fellow writers point out the areas in a story they really like and begin to offer suggestions, the writer who listens, can walk away with the realization that even though they thought their work was perfect, many of the suggestions will only make it that much better.

That's the power of a well given critique.

For a novel to find itself in the hands of readers, it must be looked at by someone other than the author. Someone who doesn't have the characters prancing around in their head or know the storyline by heart. Because then, the fresh set of eyes can spot issues that the writer themselves would never see.

But the truth hurts. Of course it hurts--but there is an art to delivery. A person might say. "You have something in your teeth," Loser. Or. "You have something in your teeth. Hey I like your skirt." Who would you rather be friends with?

Like the spinach in the teeth, a good critiquer not only points out issues, they go the extra step--they leave the writer feeling encouraged.

This might seem trivial, and believe me, I know there is a time and place to leave the fluff behind and get to the nitty gritty, but for the everyday, the coffee shops, the living rooms, and the e-mail box, its crucial to offer some congratulatory praise. Even if its hard, find something good in what you see.

There's a reason behind my rambling. If a person's critique is the packet of seeds and the writer's heart is the soil, then the positive comments and praise are what till the soil. Otherwise, the seeds will land on a heart that has not been softened. And if there is anything that I firmly stand by, it is that we as Christians have the calling to be kind in all that we do. Business is not the time to throw that out the window. Be business-like. But be kind.

Christ was and he reached many, many hearts. That is an example worth living by.

Adventures in Country Living: Drying Herbs

Summer is winding down. The arid days are drawing to an end and with a few summer storms prayerfully on the horizon, gardeners and growers everywhere are putting up their garden harvests. Aside from the usual methods of preserving like canning and freezing, drying is an excellent way of storing everything from apple slices to fresh herbs.

Herbs are a delightful addition to any garden. They are relatively easy to grow, can live in convenient containers and are so rewarding to harvest. I love to toss fresh chives and cilantro onto the table as taco fixin's and making rosemary Italian bread at Christmas is a cheery gift for family and friends.

In the past I have only used herbs fresh. But this year, I've put some energy into drying and storing my herbs to use year round. It suddenly struck me one day when I was completely out of Italian seasoning, that I had all the makings of the herb blend right in my garden. So I snipped several sprigs of rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil and parsley, dried them for several days, then crushed the herbs up and tossed them in a glass jar with a pinch of red pepper flakes. Yum! Not to mention, I'd always bought dried herbs from the store. I had never taken advantage of using my own herbs, but when I did, even in their dried stage, they remained bright and green and had a lovely, fresh taste.

For another project, I purchased jumbo teabags on eBay ( I felt like a bidding geek--I mean, who sits there watching the minutes and doing the math to buy a two dollar box of empty tea bags on eBay. Me, apparently) Anywho, the key to drying herbs is that not all herbs are ready when you want them, so be sure to dry them at the peak of their season. I cut handfulls of lavender and chocolate mint (my personal fav) and hung the bundles upside down in an airy spot away from direct sunlight which will kill their potency. I've got the rest of the ingredients for bath teas right in the pantry: oats, Epsom salts and powdered milk (sounds strange but oats and milk have been popular bath additions for years.)

The third use for herbs is medicinal purposes. Now I am not an herbalist, so I have a hard time figuring out the many uses and properties of herbs, but its easy to look on the web and find great sources. My particular favorite is the Bulk Herb Store (check out their Eden Salve. LOVE IT!) This is where I got the recipe for a tincture that is designed to draw out poison and toxins, things like bug bites and beyond. So far it has worked great. I bought a pound of dried plantain and soaked the herbs in a jar of apple cider vinegar for three weeks. After straining away the herbs that have now relinquished their potency to the vinegar, I labeled the jar and it comes in handy all the time.

Drying herbs is fun, satisfying and this is just the beginning. I'm excited to add new and different herbs to my garden each year and study up on their medicinal uses, skin care qualities and yummy recipes for the fam.

Happy Homesteading!