I can’t remember why I got so upset that day. It was about a month ago. I had bought myself a label maker and had been wanting to use it, in order to get more organized. I didn’t use it right away, I was waiting for just the right mood to strike me. And then, one day, it happened. The perfect mood. Only, it was ugly. I snapped. All of a sudden, (maybe I was searching for something and couldn’t find it?) I just got mad at my kitchen. I took the contents of the drawers in the photo, and threw away 95% of them. Then, I used my label maker and labeled–There isn’t a single thing in these drawers that isn’t on the label. I have many more drawers and cupboards to work on “someday”, but it’s amazing what a relief I feel, just looking at the ones that I organized.
I did this one other drawer, on the opposite side of the kitchen:
It makes me so happy to look in this drawer now. I can’t tell you how many times in the past that I needed nail clippers and couldn’t find them! And matches! And my keys!
All this to say.
Because of my cleaning fit a month ago, I had to put large candles on Davy-do’s birthday cake this weekend. ‘Cause, apparently, I threw away all the birthday candles that used to be in the drawer that now holds just coffee.
Oh yes, it looked a little funny, Davy’s birthday cake with the big candles. But, you gotta do what you gotta do. At least they weren’t votives. And at least I had the right number of them.
Happy Birthday, David! (he turned 7 on September 27).
Ethan damaged all of our hearing when he all of a sudden let off a string of loud capshots as Davy blew out the candles.
Random photos:
Enjoying the autumn reds on my window sill;
I went inside to get my camera and when I came back, I found Seth with a pumpkin blossom clamped in his gums, I had to dig it out of his mouth with my finger;
I love zinnias, they are so pretty at this time of year;
Ethan, eating soup in a big bowl;
Ethan had a big day today. He had been complaining of a *really itchy* bug bite on his wrist for a couple of days and today I noticed that it was swollen, with pink streaks going up his arm. I took him to the doctor’s and he was put on antibiotics for an infection. He has a small scratch on his wrist, but he doesn’t remember anything happening to it. He thought it was a bug bite all along.
While we were at the doctor’s, Ethan was dismayed to also get a flu shot. He will be happy, though, when he’s the only one of the children who doesn’t get one, on Saturday.
I was thankful that I had put beef stew in the crock pot first thing this morning, because it made my afternoon of running around much less stressful.
Seth, in all his cuteness;
Caleb has been working on his coloring book for months now. Every time he finishes a coloring page, we mount it on a piece of pretty paper and put it in a scrapbook. He is very proud of it.
I did a little Fall decorating;
I made this wooden trellis thingy so that I could train morning glory vines up it this summer. I am here to report that it did not go well. They were growing fine, but one day I looked out my kitchen window to see David walking away with my wooden trellis thingy over his head, with all the plants ripped up by their roots.
It’s moments like that when a little phrase comes in handy, “Oh Well”. Rich was home, so he had a talk with David about being careful not to destroy Mama’s things on accident. Grace felt bad and tried to replant the morning glories, but it didn’t work, they still died. Oh well.
I do think it looks pretty with these Japanese Lantern blossoms hanging from it now.
I went for a walk today. It was chilly outside, but such a lovely fall day. I wore a tanktop and a sweatshirt and was alternately hot and cold all day long. That’s fall weather for you.
The leaves are looking so pretty. I love the bark on the white birch trees.
This trail is right below our property and we walk here all the time. You can actually see the roof of our garage in the picture. The trail leads through state forest.
I fed my chickens a piece of raw corn on the cob this afternoon. It was fun to watch them gobble it down. I really love having a flock of chickens.
Caleb likes them, too. This is a chick from the younger group. He said this one was named Maria. The chickens all have names, but I don’t know which one is which. I have to ask the children. Caleb had Maria in a cat carrier for a while today.
Happiness is hanging laundry on a fall day. I could even smell wild concord grapes in the air!
Lean in real close and look at Jake. He has braces now. He got them put on yesterday and the poor poor boy is so bothered by them. He is being incredibly brave but they are cutting into his lips and cheeks. Please pray that his mouth will “toughen” up soon and that he will have relief.
Coming up—tooth extractions (6) and then the wires will be put in. It’s hard to see him go through the suffering, but he really needed the braces, his mouth was way too overcrowded with teeth.
I let Ethan and Jake play for a little bit, but then stopped the “sword fight” in fear of Jacob being hit in the mouth.
I started a new journal. I bought the notebook at Barnes and Noble. I love the plain green paper cover.
And, for a little while today, I had the pleasure of curling up on my couch and looking through magazines for pretty pictures. I glued some on the first 5 or 6 pages to decorate the notebook. Then, for today, I added little notes, and a recipe. (The beef stew that I made for dinner, which turned out excellent).
Tomorrow’s blank page, waiting to be filled;
And the next day’s page.
I am thinking about Grace as I write in them. I want to give them to her someday.
I got the idea from “Eyes of Wonder’s” blog. She wrote a post about her journals (several posts, actually) and I pretty much copied her exactly. But, that was what she was hoping, I think, to inspire others to try it for themselves. I can’t wait to fill up the pages of my pretty book.
My favorite moment of the day?
Eating a bowl of hot, beef stew perfection out on the porch. It was soooooo cold out, that I had to cover up with a thick comforter. Cold air vs. Hot stew.
Davy came out to join me. He brought his own blanket and snuggled into my shoulder. We watched the sky and saw the moon, and some dark smoky clouds blow slowly by. He begged me for chunks of meat and I fed some to him with my spoon. We laughed together. We were sitting there when Rich got home from work, and discovered us.
I hope all you dear ones have a lovely night.
Much much love,
~Shanda
Good to be Home 
What a lovely post! The idea of putting together a scrapbook of all the coloring is such a wonderful idea! I also have a journal like yours that I love. I often take it with me when visiting some friends I haven’t seen for a long time and have them write in it. I’ll take a picture of them and then put it on their page. I haven’t written in my for a bit so I should pull it out again. Thanks for the inspiration. 🙂
Great job organizing! I wish I would do better at journaling — need to work on that! Your stew looks delicious! Happy 7th Birthday David!! I remember when I was seven and in second grade and my teacher gave me a book about a dog named Rags because I had perfect attendance! That was a long long time ago!!
I love this post, but will only comment that your fall colors are so pretty — you are so fortunate to live close to a woodsy area!
Your blog is so peaceful and homey. Thank you for adding me. You are already an inspiration! It’s nice to know you from afar! Thank you.
An interesting post. Little Seth makes me smile in each picture.
My husband says that when he was a boy, his mother deep-fat fried pumpkin blossoms for their supper sometimes ~ they tasted like mushrooms, he says. Be sure to plant morning glories again next year ~ once you get them established, they will return every year for your pleasure! Loved your post ~
I love your label maker and what you have used it for! I had to laugh at the cake, it’s good you had the right amount. Your dinner sounds very good! I hope Jacob’s mouth does better very soon. I had braces and know it was no picnic.
I like the skippity-hoppity approach you take to blogging about your days. 😉 My son was reading over my shoulder and said….” Wow those pictures are great. Who is this? This is a peaceful blog.” And then he walked away….. 🙂 I go through stages of journaling….and keeping notebooks…..I wish I was more consistent, like you.The cake picture makes me laugh. Oh boy….gut laugh, because I soooooooooo understand. The whole story…even what is said between the lines. I hear you- LOUD AND CLEAR. 🙂 I made chicken and dumplings for dinner. I hate it on the back deck…with a blanket around me….
^ WHOOOPS!! I meant to say “I ATE IT ON THE BACK DECK….with a blanket around me…..” : ) Not “i hate it”…..
Ahhh I love this. ❤ Beef stew is the perfect homey dinner on a cool evenings, isn’t it? I’m planning on making Cheeseburger Soup this weekend, also a lovely warm dinner. Say if I don’t get over this week, how’s next week looking for you? I also have Columbus day off. I’m sure we can work something out very soon. I could also ask for a day off, if needed…just cuz. 🙂 I hope you have a great evening, and we’ll talk soon. Love, Me
wow, such beautiful fall colors up there!
Thanks for sharing your day. It was a joy to read about. The fall colors are certainly showing themselves in your part of the country. Your pictures are beautiful, as always. Thank you also for your encouragement a few weeks ago, I’ve been doing much better.Oh, and I also purchased a label maker! Like you, I wanted some order around my home. Certainly a label maker will solve that, right? But I have yet to get batteries for it…and have no label for where the batteries should be…it’s a vicious cycle.;) Your labels make me excited to get to using it!
What a blessing it was to read your post this evening. After a trying day it was so nice to enjoy some pretty pictures and wonderful thoughts. Happy birthday to your David–one day before my hubby’s.I love your journal idea and all the organization is awesome.
I loved seeing all your pictures and reading about your day. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DAVEY! wow, seven years old!! I have used a votive candle before…lol. Like you say, whatever works and it nestled right in the center of a bundt cake. I loved all the fall colors, foliage, welcome, sheets, chickens, swordfights, journals and snuggling…with Stew! I don’t know how you do it all, but I am so glad you share. I have had such full and busy days…from rising til I lay down…and I have things I want to blog. In between going, teaching, meeting, and all I have been studying for church and for teaching chemistry. whew. We did have our Boy Scout meeting tonight at a bonfire down by the beach. It was lovely! Off to bed. night night friend. Jenny
Great post! I do the same type of journals – I’ll have to check out the link you gave! Always an inspiration to see other’s journals! I wish I could see the color change like you are experiencing! How I miss the seasons!
Thank you for sharing your day! Things will get better for Jake. Both my girls had braces and all the stuff that goes with them. Some just must be endured, and the final result is wonderful!
Oh Shan,You and I are more alike than I realize. I had a huge “clean out closet” routine last week, because I too had just “had it.” Mary bought a label maker with her birthday money this year. I couldn’t be more thrilled as she’s been going around labeling everything. She even dove under her brother’s bed and started labeling GI Joes and legos. :o) I love your journal! What a treasure to give to your daughter. Ok, it’s officially Fall….wanna come up here? We can paint pumpkins and have hot apple cider. :o) End of October looks good for me or anytime in November. Have a great weekend…yay! it’s almost here. :o)PS your stew looks delicious! What a yummy fall treat!
oh! and one more thing, you made me lol at you candles because I lost mine, too when we cleaned up everything. :o) HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVEY!
Poor, POOR Jacob! I still have vivid memories of the terrible pain I had when getting braces at 13 years old. That same day, a dozen girls came to my house for my birthday party and a sleepover. I barely managed to down a bite of my German Chocolate Cake, but the dinner that night – tacos – was a lost cause!For some reason, a lot of this post struck me as hilarious! Your organizing rage (I can totally relate), the huge candles on Davy’s cake and the look on his face (smugly satisfied?), Seth in the birthday pics, first looking at the camera (the ONLY one looking at the camera) and then up at Ethan’s shotgun…it was all just great. It reminds me of crazy, wonderful times with my family!I LOVE the way you do your journal, I am going to look up that other site. I’m pretty sure that is the biggest I’ve ever seen Grace smile (in the pic with her two older brothers). She usually looks so demure in her pictures. ha!Your beef stew looks yummy and I have an amazing recipe for it myself, now you’ve inspired me to make it for supper tonight. ❤ ❤ ❤
What a beautiful family you have! Beautiful pictures too.
That is hilarious about the candles, so the moral of the story is “don’t organize because you will not have small candles” LOL! Knowing David’s personality he probably liked the big ones more! I have a label maker and used all the labels up in one week, I don’t think I should refill it because I just get freakish about everything in its place! I start getting trigger happy and putting it one obvious stuff like “Fridge” (not really but you get the idea).Jacob will be so thankful for his perfect teeth when he is older, I think he looks so cool with them in!You were not kidding about the fall colors, I REALLY need them to stay..to hang on a little longer! Go out and plead with them will you?I will have to go over to her blog and see what is the difference with the journals you and I already do, it looks like there is more writing, I love the idea of planning on passing it down to our daughters.Have a great fall day Shanda banda!!
How funny! I made New Brunswick Stew last week, and we took it to the park in town and ate it together at a picnic table. The weather is chilly in the mornings and evenings. It seemed like the right thing to do! Such a pleasure visiting with you earlier this week. We must do it again soon! Hugs, friend!
Oh, your fall colors are gorgeous. Love the white birches in the wild. Does your son have wax for those new braces? It was wonderful to have for those times when they adjusted them and they would rub again your cheeks. It is worth the pain:). Love that journal!! Just might have to get one. I love the way you put pictures among the journaling. I’ll have to look at that link. What a treasure to give to your daughter!!!
Shanda when did she write that post recently I skimmed and could not find it, I know I am being lazy….
@mymeanderings – You’re not being lazy at all. About an hour ago I put another link within my post. The first one, that you clicked on, just shows her blog’s front page. The second link, that I just added, will (hopefully) take you to her simple journal page. I think you will enjoy it! ~Shan
Lovely post Shanda. I will be back to follow some links later, when I have time to savor them with a hot cup of something.
Great post! Miss you
I always love visiting your blog this time of year – you share you gorgeous foliage so generously with all of us! And, BTW . . . I’m a drawer organizer, just like you!I’ve prayed that Ethan’s arm will be completely healed, soon.
Good Morning Shanda!!!….. LOL!!! Wish I could throw a tantrum and get my whole house organized like that!! LOL!! Honestly..thats how I feel right now. I just want to throw everything out…EVERYTHING…and start all over. Well except for my treasures of course. Kidding. Just kidding. I Love your pictures….your family is really growing. No matter how tough and frustrating things get with your family and all the things that happen just keep Praising Jesus! And that will get you through. Thats the test.. If you can still Praise Jesus through hard times/feelings/situations. I love your journal. I wrote all about my children while they were growing up. But haven’t done that for a very long time. Guess I could start again this time it will be about them being adults and girlfriends/boyfriends and some day grandchildren…LOL!Take care and have a wonderful day!!!
Little Seth’s face in that picture where Ethan is shooting the gun makes me laugh!!! So funny! I LOVE the journal ideas!! Gonna look at that link. What are your favorite magazines? I love zinnias too! I planted some this year from seed, though I wish I had room for more so I could have some to cut and bring indoors. I love having fresh flowers inside. I’ve been trying to organize more too lately, because the house has been driving me nuts. It seems that those times where you just snap are the best for motivating one to organize. 🙂
The look on Seth’s face when Ethan let out those capshots….priceless…
Beautiful fall scenery!!
Your labeling reminds me of the day when my mom went through our whole kitchen and labeled EVERYTHING about 5 years ago. My dad was just retiring and having been gone quite a bit with his job, didn’t know where things were. She even labeled the tupperware-it might help our organization if we went by it 🙂 Had to smile at the big candles…ya do what you gotta do :)I really love that zinna photo…I might just have to go out and take a shot like that with ours :)I love all the fall color in your trees. At least I can see pictures and try to think it’s fall 🙂
Hello Shanda, I NEED such drawers !! So organised. I have an inspirationbook too and I visit many lovely blogs for inspiration when I have time. I love your post. Have you found Seth on my blog alraidy ? I hope new friends find you now for I love the moods and the playfyllness and the beautiful photo’s.Have a great weekendps. What is your daughters name ?Godeliva van Ariadone
Hi Shanda! I always love reading your blog and catching up on the activities of your family. I want to encourage you, dear sister, that when you are feeling overwhelmed, and harried, give thanks. Give thanks for a husband who works hard, plays hard, and loves hard. It is obvious that he is a fine man, and good father. Give thanks that your children all have smiley faces, and love in their hearts for you, and for each other. Give thanks for having a life that most would love to have, including me. Now, I’m not “envious” because I know your life isn’t always the idilic one we see in the photos, but what I wouldn’t give to have just one day of what you have….I am grateful for what I do have, but would love to have the love of my child, the love of my husband, the security of “home” again. Thank you for sharing all that you do, and for sharing such a large part of your heart. It makes a difference in mine. 🙂
Dear Shanda: I am so thankful you share your life with us. I always find some joyful thing(s) that I need to incorporate-whether physically (beef stew) or mentally (loving/finding joy in my children). With that being said, I have had more people come to my blog because of your mention, in one day than I ever had in a month:)giggle. I am glad for what you do for our community of bloggers it is truly a blessing for us to watch you all grow physically and in God’s mercy and grace! Be blessed.
The beef stew is almost done cooking in my crockpot! My husband tasted it and thinks it’s yummy. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe.
@buana – Wasn’t it good?? I really liked the flavor from all that nicely browned meat and the onions being sauted in the drippings. Next time I will add more potatoes, the kids seemed to want more of them and we ended up with a bowl of leftover meat. I’m so glad you liked it! I find a lot of good recipes from that website, allrecipes.com