that's how I feel, audrey...journal #20~4/7/2010

I'm very late with this, but I didn't get internet back on at home until last night. So here goes.

Outlook...serene...so glad to be in my own home.

On My Mind...the nice, slow pace of small town life.

Delish Kitch...stirfried tofu and veggies over rice and rye. Mmmmmm

Homemaking...Since I got home Saturday afternoon, I've been giving the house a deep cleaning. Today I focused on my bedroom. It was warm enough to open the windows for awhile.

Praying for...peace among nations and in my own land.

Appearance...denim jumper (it used to be the Polyg dress last fall--took off the sleeves and bib thing, hehe), grey long sleeved T with little flowers embroidered here and there (Ann Klein thrift $2), grey, fair-isle, wool cardigan (thrift $4), black leggings, and birkies. My hair loves the dry air in Utah, but my skin is screaming for moisture.

Movement...walking and working in the garden.

Bibliophile Fix…enjoying the delightful voice of Susan Branch in her hand-lettered, hand-painted books, most lately The Summer Book. Although I wouldn't even think of using many of her unhealthy recipes, the ideas for picnics, parties, gardening, herbs, home remedies, and anecdotes are delightful.

Scripture Meditations..."And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments." Doctrine and Covenants 59:21 I'm not certain whether God much cares about the type of bread that we use to celebrate the sacrament as long as we do celebrate it. When we do celebrate it, we ought to be renewing our baptismal covenants, confessing our sins, committing to follow His commandments, and thanking Him for all our many blessings. God is concerned about the letter of the law, yes, but more so that we live the law, His law, to the best of our ability confessing His had in all things.

Something New...my indoor kitchen garden...for a start, I'm growing wheat grass, sunflower greens, and buckwheat lettuce. As soon as I get the rest of the trays and seed, I'll add baby lettuce and spinach. I'm so glad I read The Wheatgrass Book and The Sprouting Book both by Ann Wigmore. I've been searching for a way to grow veggies year around indoors. This is an easy system that I can easily take to Seattle next winter.

My week is looking...half way over

God has been teaching me...to be more like my grandma. She is the most loving woman in the world.

Simple Pleasure...studying scriptures, history, and Spanish, at my lap desk in bed before getting up to exercise and eat. Delightful!

Commitment to Loveliness...1) finish spring cleaning the house and garden 2) clean my car 3) make a couple skirts or denim and khaki for gardening 4) plant fruit trees (I have so many plans.) 5) look into learning watercolor. I just love it and have wanted to do it for so long.

Poetry I'm Enjoying...

The Kitchen Chimney

Builder, in building the little house,

In every way you may please yourself;

But please please me in the kitchen chimney:

Don't build me a chimney upon a shelf.

However far you must go for bricks,

Whatever they cost a-piece or a pound,

But me enough for a full-length chimney,

And build the chimney clear from the ground.

It's not that I'm greatly afraid of fire,

But I never heard of a house that throve

(And I know of one that didn't thrive)

Where the chimney started above the stove.

And I dread the ominous stain of tar

That there always is on the papered walls,

And the smell of fire drowned in rain

That there always is when the chimney's false.

A shelf's for a clock or vase or picture,

But I don't see why it should have to bear

A chimney that only would serve to remind me

Of castles I used to build in air.

Robert Frost