Excerpts from a Journal Junkie

From the Garden Journal . . .

     blanched and froze 2 quart bags of tomatoes, diced and froze 2 very full bags of green peppers, shredded and froze 22 cups of zucchini.  The wet and cooler weather is killing many of our zucchini plants and rotting some melons.  We cut our first cantaloupe last night and it was delicious.

From the Exercise Journal . . .

    walked 2 miles, 30 minutes on the speed bag, taking a bike ride later tonight.

From the Homesteading Journal . . . 

     located a 1 year old Lamancha female for sale and may go look at her this coming weekend, cut down tree branches that were hanging too far over the driveway and gave them to the goats, working on more barn repairs, researching raising beef, researching raising an alpacas for spinning their fiber, and researching canning meats.

From the Crafting Journal . . .

   still working away on my 12 year-old's crocheted blanket, starting my 9 year-old's 4th embroidered flour sack towel, and started another crocheted hand towel for my on-line store.

Poison Oak, Sewing and Embroidery lessons, Word of Wisdom

My son, bless his heart, went to work looking like he had not slept in a week.  His co-worker, told him he looked like he was on drugs.  

His eyes were swollen, his ears were swollen and covered with poison oak, as well as his entire body.  I was about to take him to the doctor for a quick fix, when we started using a spray bottle of apple cider vinegar and water (50/50).  

He had been using a wash that we've always used, followed by a cream to dry it up. It just kept showing up in other places on his body.  

We mixed the water and apple cider vinegar and he sprayed himself, anytime, including taking a small bottle to work with him.  He looks so much better and he's not scratching.

I think we found the culprit too - one of the dogs.  We think the dog slept with him, then spread it, and spread it.  We did a major wipe down/clean up too. Even I got it on my arm after walking in the house and only being home for about 15 minutes.  I looked down and my entire wrist to elbow was covered in poison oak.  

We've got all three poisons here, so we have to be so careful.  We have poison sumac to kill this fall, and we've already killed much of our poison ivy.  It's the oak that keeps showing up.

As for the sewing and embroidery, my 9 year-old daughter has shown more interest than the older girls.  She's been asking for felt to make her Tiger Needle Case.  I did help her with the pattern and cutting (very sharp scissors).

She completed the embroidery, and the stitching to bind the two pieces together.  She also did the drawing for the nose, mouth and dots.

Tiger meets Tiger, and approves of him.

This morning I sipped soothing, hot coffee, from a mug from the Gauley River.  It's a mug from my Uncle.  The kids find these mugs/cups very special and take special care of them.  The mug made me remember the words of wisdom my Uncle told me.

Watch your thoughts, they become words.

Watch your words, they become actions.

Watch your actions, they become habits.

Watch your habits, they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
These words will now be written in my quote book, and read over and over, along with others.