Pantry Prep For This Week

I was very blessed this week in getting some canning jars. Nomi , my Seester/Cousin gave me two dozen 1/2 gallon jars. These will house my children's precious storehouse of dill pickles.She was blessed with them and just passed some of the blessing onto me. Thank you Seester :)
Plus yesterday for our anniversary (more on that later) Preacher and I went yardsaling (is that even a word ?) to some yard sales. He bought me two dozen quart jars for $6. I was so excited. I have plenty jars to get to filling now.

On another note, my Cousin Shirley blessed me this week too. Several years ago she acquired a cabinet that belonged to my Mamaw.She told me that whenever she had the chance she would bring it to me. This week she came through! Now I not only have a precious heirloom of my Mamaw's but I also have some awesome storage for my canning projects.
Have a great Sunday everyone, Blessings! ~ Nikki

Preacher's Anniversary Present

Saturday is our anniversary. Preacher has been wanting some more of those "cooling" bandannas. He used to have one and he loved it. Alas, it has traveled on. But I will be surprising him with some homemade ones :)  I plan on sewing them up Friday because its really my only "free" day to sew.I will post some pictures if you like and show you how they turn out.
Today has been a good day. The kids and I did our chores and then they relaxed for a while. Tman went to Dollywood with his friend. I finished my math homework and then we met Preacher at my parent's house for supper. Preacher helped my Daddy work on his mower. BabyGirl and I had school tonight but after we got out we all enjoyed a relaxing  sunset on the front porch.
Roosie made us some homemade pizza for a snack after school. She did an amazing job too :) She will be an amazing cook as she gets older. Of course her brother, Hoopy, was picking on her about her cooking but they are two peas in a pod and they don't stay angry at each other for long.
Well now its late. Preacher is sleeping and the kids have a friend staying tonight so they are going to be up late gaming. I have 3 tests to study for but my brain is tired tonight. Three hours of math will do that for a person lol. So I will be lurking and reading some blogs for a while yet. Bed time soon though *wink* Have a great night everyone, Blessings! ~ Nikki

The Book of James eChart Download

The Book of James eChart Download
I love using Rose's charts. I get them for free in my email. You should check them out :) ~ Nikki

Simple Woman's Daybook (#1 for me)

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...

The sun is shining through the Rose of Sharon blooms .

I am thinking...

of lots of little things too numerous to mention .

I am thankful...

for all my Blessings. Especially family and less humidity today :)

From the learning rooms...(if this applies)

Math test today for me.

In the kitchen...

grilled burgers for supper tonight. Since the weather is a bit nicer I want to enjoy it when I get home from school. 

I am wearing..

.My comfy $ 1 lounge pants and a tank. I feel kinda sloppy but comfy :)

I am creating...

an anniversary surprise for my DH Preacher.

I am going...
to Squad to pick up Tman , then to school,then to my Momma's to pick up my girls and then home again.
I am wondering...
if I will ever get our school year organized.
I am reading...
my DD's book that she wrote. I get to be editor :) She is so talented.
I am hoping...
that my lost loved ones come to know the Lord as their Savior and that peace will reign in the lives of my friends and family.
I am looking forward to...
Autumn! its my favorite season.
I am hearing...
the cicadas, finally! I must be strange but I love the buzz of all the Summer insects. Its comforting to me because growing up in the country that's all we heard.
Around the house...
I'm doing laundry and simple cleaning. There are tons more organizing projects I need to do but not today. *sigh*
 I am pondering...
how we get so far from the old ways so very fast.
One of my favorite things...
is time with family. I love making memories.
A few plans for the rest of the week:
I will be canning pickles,cleaning up outside and doing some pre- Fall cleanup/organizing projects.
Here is a picture for thought I am sharing... 

Some photos for you to enjoy :) (Another Quick Catch Up Post)

I hope the day finds everyone well and happy :). I have been lurking and reading a lot lately but honestly my brain has been too fried to really sit down and post. Ever have days like that?
Here's whats been going on:
I started my new math class and it is intense but I think I will be ok. I'm moving along in AP II and making good grades so far with all my test scores in the 90s. I still have to schedule my pre-nursing test.BabyGirl and I enjoy going to school together although right now we don't actually have class together. We do get to meet for break sometimes which is nice and kind of mellows the stress.
We spent a wonderful July 4th with family cooking out and shooting fireworks. We try to make family memories as often as possible because those are the things that will last.
This past Friday, Preacher's Dad had a heart attack so we had to rush to Chattanooga that afternoon. After having a stint put in my FIL is doing better now although they almost lost him three times during the stint surgery. He is doing better now praise God but please continue to remember him in your prayers. Preacher was able to do some work around the house for his parents while we were there.
It has been way too hot to be outside even in the evening. So we have been keeping cool by staying indoors as much as possible, which stinks cause it is Summer and our school vacation time lol.I water the garden and thats about the extent of my outside chores. The heat wave is suppose to break by this weekend though which is something I look forward to. Our "feels like" temp has been hovering around 105.
Our kitty had her babies. She had four and they are absolutely beautiful. The kids are trying their best to spoil them.
I have some health issues come up that I won't go into detail about but I do ask that you be praying for me. Really , really , really pray about this one :) Thanks
I thought I would end this post with some pictures. I did some picture taking while at my in-laws house. They have the prettiest gardens :) There are also some pictures of pickles and kitties so enjoy! Blessings! ~ Nikki

The "pretty" jar of pickles I made for the fair.

Homemade lasagna. It tasted better than it looks. It was my first time making it :)

I have an affinity for bugs on flowers :)...

... as you can tell :)

2 BUGS!!!!!!

oooooh...pretty :)

ahhhh...another pretty :)

I love the play of light on this one

Lemon Balm, the first herb I ever grew came from this garden; given to me by my FIL :)

I'm sure "sonflowers" are God's favorite. I know they're mine (plus roses)

Ragged and a lil worn but still beautiful :)

They're so cute! Isn't my lil Smurph (momma) a cutie?

Farmers Market

Roosie and I went to the farmer's market Saturday at our local Farmers CoOp. There were not many vendors out but we still found some great produce at good prices. Then we came home and picked lettuce and onions from the garden. We had a wonderful lunch :) We had fried green maters, pinto beans, cornbread, fried yellow squash and "kilt" (y'all country folk know what I'm talking about) lettuce and onions. It was very fattening but very good.
I ended up having 2 quarts of green bell pepper, 2 quarts of banana pepper and 2 quarts of yellow squash to put in the freezer. You can keep up with our canning and freezing using the pages tabs at the top of my blog if you'd like. I have to get my cukes pickled tonight.I think I will end up having about 5 quarts to can. We will see :) I have to at least get an extra pint made for the county fair.
I have been slugging away at school and I am almost done with my first math class. I have a final on the 5th for it and if I pass the class I will start my next math class on the 6th. If all goes as planned I will take my prenursing exam in July and earn some extra points. I will apply for nursing school this Fall. I get 3 weeks off in August before Fall classes start.
Please be in prayer for Preacher. He goes to the doctor today to find out if they will be doing surgery to try and fix the damage in his shoulder from a fall he had several years ago at his old job. If he has surgery and is out of work things will be real tight around here again instead of "kinda" tight :) I know God will provide cause he has never failed us yet but my humanity worries a lot sometimes if ya know what I mean.
Well I'm off for another day. Blessings !

Happy First Day Of Summer

Although today is the official start of the Summer season and everyone is gearing up to see things like this:

 around here it has felt like Summer forever and believe it or not there are some who long to see this:

Myself, I am a BIG fan of :

I do enjoy Summer. I love getting together with family, fireworks, cold watermelon on a hot day, long days, lightening bugs in a deep blue twilight sky,blackberries and the lazy drone of the bees and bugs that lull you to sleep on the porch. But I despise the heat and the suffocating humidity.
Now Autumn, Autumn is amazing. I love that morning when you first feel the nip in the air. The smell of dying leaves and the spicy scent of the mums.Autumn is a sight, a smell ...a feeling :)
But for now Summer is here and I will enjoy its briefness while it lasts but I do long for you Autumn...see you soon.
Blessings! ~ Nikki