The Cabbage Patch

Strawberries

I'm making strawberry pie right now.  We will make freezer jam sometime in the next couple of days.  And, maybe a strawberry rhubarb upside down cake.

All in all, a good day at the strawberry farm.  There are so many strawberries you could pick a box full in 10-15 minutes.

Interesting...

7 Quick Takes Friday ~ Moving Edition

~1~

The weekend's move went well.  I didn't move, but my parents moved in with us (for those of you who don't know what's going on).  The transition has been pretty smooth.  I know my clutter is driving my parents crazy.  It is my goal to get through it all, but I can't devote days on end to it.  We've been doing "school lite" for the month of March.  I need to get them back on track.

~2~

I've been able to let go of a lot.  It's been hard for me.  I feel like I'm wasting so much good stuff.  Things that are still in good condition or working well.  But, I don't have that much room.  My mom has some great stuff from the kitchen so we are trying very hard to consolidate without stepping on toes.  So far, so good.  

I've emptied out many cabinets and drawers.  I need to go through a couple more cabinets for the bigger things.  And, the junk drawers.  I hate my drawers.  They're shallow and skinny.  It's annoying.  I'd rather have paid the extra money for better drawers.  I have granite countertops.  Replacing those cabinets aren't going to come cheap.  I have carpet to replace first though.  Five people at home for most of the day for weeks and months on end is hard on the carpet.  Oh, I digress.

~3~

We are having a mega garage sale next weekend.  Ben's in charge.  There are so many toys, yarn, books, clothes, and stuff to sell.  Anything we don't sell will go straight to a charity.  

~4~

We received the formal pictures we took at the ball last month.  I hate them.  The photographer decided he needed to make us look younger and wrinkle free.  I look plastic.  I found a picture of us taken at the last ball we attended 13 years ago.  I had more line then.  I'm going to call the photographer and complain.  I care not one whit about my lines.  Without them, I don't look natural.

~5~

There have been many times I've wished I didn't give up coffee for Lent.  I've been able to maintain so far.

~6~

Still no name for the photography.  It should be easy to come up with one but it's not.

~7~

My children are loving having their grandparents here.  Every morning they abandon me and run to my parents' room.  They just love it.  My parents are enjoying it too but the noise is something to get used to.  They are used to quiet mornings.  We are not quiet in the mornings.

My dad also takes the children out the play often in the front yard.  That way they've been able to ride their bikes and scooters.  I feel badly that I've never been able to do that for them.  Lucky for them they have their grandfather here.  

My mother has made many Korean dishes that they love.  They are loving it.  You would think I never fed them the way they've been eating these past few days.

Check out more Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.  Jennifer Fulwiler is also posting a great series of posts about the Our Father taken one word at a time.  

Lots of Changes

My parents moved in yesterday.  All of my siblings along with Ben and my brother-in-law helped with the move.  It was accomplished with minimal fuss and finished shortly before 3pm.  

With the move, I've had to change my email address because my email address was connected to their Road Runner account.  Talk about headaches!

I needed to then change many, many accounts that are connected to that address.

The biggest headache has been Google.  I had a gmail account from a while back.  I wanted to somehow combine the Reader with my gmail account.  No dice.  I can get a new gmail address that's connected to my current email account which is where all my other Google stuff is.  I didn't want that since that email address will no longer be valid.  Following?

I finally figured out how to copy all the subscriptions over to my gmail account, but have not figured out how to write the code for the Google Reader Share widget to connect it to my newer gmail account based Reader account.  Got that?

I was also following a few people so I could see what they liked.  Well, I can't find everyone yet.  And, if you're following me, you'll have to find me again.  Sigh.  

It's not that big a deal.  It just gives me a headache because I'm just not as technically savvy as I'd like.  

If you need me to send you my new email address, please leave me a comment.

Oh, and I'm going to get ride of almost all my sidebar stuff.  People tell me they're having trouble loading my page to leave comments.

3/4 Full

My fuel light was on in the Suburban.  I really did not look forward to filling up.  I went to a gas station that had gas at $3.36.  The pump only allowed me to fill it up to $74.00.  

When I was finished, it was only 3/4 full.  That just stinks.

7 Quick Takes Friday ~ Volume 120

~1~

The remnants of my head cold have taken roost in my head.  I'm so stuffy it's like I have cotton stuffed in my ears.  I've been pretty miserable all week.  I hope I feel better soon.  I have a lot of work to do around the house.  And, it needs to be done by next Thursday night.  

~2~

Lent has started in earnest.  I'm proud of the things my children have given up.  Pumpkin has given up bedtime stories.  Sister has given up her night light.  Honey has given up...well, I don't know.  Brother has given up beef jerky.  Me?  I've given up Facebook, coffee and my yearly standby, chocolate.  

~3~

I know I should keep the things we gave up private, but there you go.  I've already missed my spiritual exercises already but I'm going to forge on ahead as if I haven't.  If I could just think past this stuffiness, I'd be so happy.

~4~

Honey was so lovely last week as a First Communicant.  She was so funny.  She does not like the taste of the communion host.  She was so proud of herself and so were we.  

~5~

I've been wanting to do more with photography.  I'm not a very good one, but I really want to learn how to take better photos and to edit them well.  I also want to start watermarking them, but need to come up with a name.  No luck coming up with one so far though.

~6~

A mom from our homeschooling group came over for Ditch and Stitch tonight with her almost 3 month old.  He was so cute!  I didn't get to hold him since I'm sick and I didn't want to get him sick.  I missed my dear friend tonight though.

~7~

See more Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.

Ash Wednesday

Today's Responsorial Psalm (Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 and 17):

R. (see 3a) Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
“Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight.”
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

 

Honey's First Holy Communion

Thank you to my dear friend who took the pictures.