Apple Butter!

I'm making apple butter today and the house smells delicious!

You can find my Crock Pot Apple Butter tutorial here:  Homemade Apple Butter

It's easy and wonderful!  And there's no better air freshener in the world!

Back to School!

It has a whole new meaning for me this year.  You see, I've signed up to be a substitute

I've missed being a teacher!

I have taught children's classes in church since I was a teenager, starting with a Beginners' Sunday School class.  I've also taught classes for Missionettes, Rainbows and helped with Royal Rangers.  I've shared the job of co-youth director with my hubby at two different churches.  I've played piano for children's choirs. I was a volunteer 4-H Club leader for eight years.  I homeschooled my own children for sixteen years.  And I currently teach Children's Church. 

I love kids!

Who knows how long it will be before I get called into the classroom?  But, while I wait for that first phone call, I'll be trying to get my ducks in a row. 

I want to have my morning routines down to just minutes in case I get a last-minute phone call from the school (which just happens to be at the end of my country lane).

I hope to get my hair trimmed, so I can wash, dry, and run.

I'm putting together a very simple wardrobe of clothes that mix and match. 

I've written a list of easy-to-fix meals and am off to the grocery store for the fixin's this morning.

I would love advice/ideas from any of you that are/were teachers or substitutes!



Joyful Homemaking

I'm settling back in at home now after our long camping vacation.

Sweet hubby went back to work yesterday and I missed him very much!

But, I'm joyfully getting back to my homemaking routines today.

I hope to accomplish everything on my To-do list and maybe have a little "me" time left over.

Checking off my list:

• sweep/mop
• wash throw rugs/hang out on line
• water flowers
• vacuum
• dust
• take a walk
• cook supper

Speaking of cooking, look at the little cook book I picked up at an antique shop while on vacation.



Copyright 1954



First, I want to try the Blueberry Buckle recipe with some of the blueberries we picked from our bushes and put into the freezer this summer.

Well I must get busy if I want to get all my joyful chores done and still have time for a nice cup of hot tea and a little special reading time.

I hope you have a wonderful day!

~ Sherry ~

We're Home!

Neil and I had a fun-filled ten day camping trip!

We got a wonderful camp site at Wind Creek State Park.

The beach was in our back yard where we enjoyed some swimming.

My faithful book kept me company on the pier late into the night while Neil did some serious fishing.

He caught enough catfish to fry up some for lunches while there and even brought some home for the freezer.

We enjoyed the wildlife, both day...

...and night.

We biked out to the silo...

...and climbed to the top...

...and were awed by the breathtaking view of beautiful Lake Martin.

It was such a wonderful and relaxing vacation!

We came home to a pouring-down rain yesterday, but today is sunny and cool and feels like fall!

I've done the laundry and some housework but the nice temps keep luring me outside.

I guess I got used to the outdoor life while camping.

le voyage!

No, we're not going to Paris, but at least we are going somewhere!

Sweet hubby and I are finally going to take a vacation!

We've looked forward to it all summer but have had many delays.

But, hopefully, and with God's blessings we'll be leaving on Friday for a ten day camping trip in one of Alabama's wonderful state parks!

We woke our camper up and gave her a sprucing up.

She's had too long of a nap this year.

I'm getting my house all spruced up too.  I like to leave my home clean. 

The floors are all swept and mopped, the furniture is dusted, and the baths are scheduled for their cleaning today.

I love coming home to a clean home.

I'm being quite optimistic here, since our two sons are staying home. :)

I've got my homemade personal products all replenished.

My antiperspirant is made and tucked into its rose-bedecked porcelain home, although I'll switch it over to a little covered tin container to make it more travel-friendly.

My toothpaste (baking soda) bottle is refilled.

And, last-but-not-least, I ran some coarse salt through the blender for my saline nasal rinse.

Eeeeewwwww!

That might sound nasty, but I make it cute by topping the jar with my cute kitty fabric!

Groceries are bought and the meat is in the freezer just awaiting sweet hubby's grilling talents.

I'll make dinner rolls today to tuck into the freezer.  They'll be all ready to pop into our toaster oven and add to the fresh, raw veggies and grilled meat for a simple fuss-free meal.

That's one reason I love camping, I get out of most kitchen duties.

After checking off everything on my To-Do list today, I hope to have a good night's sleep and awake refreshed for Thursday and the three L's:

• Laundry
• Library (gotta have fluffy reading material while on vacation)
• Lunch out with my girlfriends

See you soon!

~ Sherry ~