Home Sanctuary

Time to Turn In Points!

May is over, ladies! Wow, what a month it's been. As you know, the highlight of my world came into being on the 16th - Ivy Grace:

I am IN LOVE with this little precious thing! She is giving her mama and daddy some topsy-turvy days and nights, as newborns do, but OH what joy. What unspeakable love. I am absolutely in awe.

 

Okay. I just had a little moment there.

So let's get down to business. If you played along with me during the month by doing the daily Small Things and collecting points, you may be eligible to with this:

 

This month, I am giving a gift certificate worth $100.00 to my store, rachelanneridge.com. Whoever earns the "Most Points" will win it!

 

Rachel Anne Ridge - Inspirational art

Rachel Anne Ridge - Inspirational art

Newest print: Prov. 3:5-6

One hundred buckaroos will buy you up to two canvases - and I've got a couple of new things going into my store that I JUST COULDN'T MAKE TIME TO UPLOAD. 

Coffee cups and iphone cases....yes! I should have them up by Monday, when I announce the winner. You won't want to miss them.

A "Random Drawing" winner will receive a special coffee mug with one of my original designs. Even if you only did one little thing with me, you are eligible to enter. No points or math required!

Here is where you can find all the information about points and prizes. 

Today's Small Thing is to enter to win!

This is an easy two-step task:

1. Send me an email (rachelanne (@) homesanctuary.com) with either your Point Total, or your Random Drawing entry. I love seeing photos of your completed Tally Sheets if you want to include them, but it's not required. 

2. Leave a comment, letting us know which was your favorite Small Thing this month! This encourages our fence-sitting Company Girls to go ahead and jump in for next month and it's just FUN to see which tasks you enjoyed!

POINTS: 40 for doing the two-step Small Thing, good towards May's total. You will have until midnight Sunday, June 2 to get your emails to me and comments posted. I'll announce the winners on Monday. Since it is a weekend, it is easy to forget, so try and get those emails to me ASAP!

 

Bread Winner

Ahem.

Excuse me, but why don't people in this household, who shall go unnamed, close bread and bun sacks and then carefully twist the twist-ties around the plastic to make them air tight? Do they LIKE dry bread?

Another question: Why don't these same people eat the last slices of one loaf of bread before diving into a fresh one? It's obvious that their need for said freshness is in complete contradiction to their utter disregard for sealing up the previous packages. Don't they realize that if they took better care of the opened sacks, they could eat fresh bread all the time?

These pressing questions haunt me, along with questions about toilet paper rolls and why they never get replaced by anyone but me. The T.P. questions can wait, while we spend some time kneading the bread issues.

Today's Small Thing is about all things "Bread."

Do you have sacks with lone slices of crusty bread in your pantry? How about bags of moldy ends of French bread that you meant to finish off with leftovers but never did? Do you have an unsightly pile of empty bread/bun sacks that you plan to re-use, that are stuffed into a drawer and pop out like a jack in the box when you open it? How about a jumble of twist-ties that serve no purpose?

Simply clean up your bread zone, organize the sacks, throw out old bread or defrost a loaf from your freezer. Heck, you could even make bread! Create home sanctuary by doing something with bread - preferably not just eating it, but if that's all you can come up with, I'm actually OK with that. Hey, that's the way the Kaiser rolls. 

Experience a little slice of heaven and be a bread winner today.

Extra 20 Points: What's YOUR bread story? What's your favorite kind of bread? Do you have "sandwich" bread AND "toast" bread, like I do? Do you make your own?  Have you gone gluten-free? Or are you carb-free (which sounds like a living hell to me)? Leave a comment with your multi-grained opinion - rising to the occasion will garner an extra 20 points today!

You Say Tomato, I Say To-mah-to

I wish you could meet my man, Tom. He's not shy by any means, but he will avoid standing out in a crowd if at all possible. He hates getting up in front of people, but if you give him a subject he is passionate about, he'll speak with eloquence and wit. He'd be perfectly content to live a quiet life with few interruptions from the outside world.

He and I were talking about our son, Grayson, one day and I remarked how much he is like Tom. "He's a lot like you, except much more outgoing," I said.

"Oh, I'm outgoing all right," Tom replied. "Just not around people."

I'm so glad he cleared that up.

We had a good laugh over that quip, but it made me stop and think about our differences. I definitely have more of a "people" need than he does. Tom and I will celebrate our thirtieth (yes, 30, three-oh) anniversary on June 11, and when I think back over the years that we've lived together, I have to scratch my head sometimes. He's a planner, I like to wing it. While I'm off in la-la land, dreaming up some scheme, he's working away to make something actually happen. I'm the idea person, he's the list maker. I'm the messy one, he is the neatnik. But then, he's more sentimental than I am, so go figure. He's just the type of guy you want on your team, no matter what the objective is. 

Today's Small Thing is to appreciate your mate's differences and compliment him on just one of them. 

I've heard it said that if two people are exactly alike, one of them is superfluous. I need all those things that can sometimes drive me crazy to save me from my own self. 

But truthfully, I don't always communicate my appreciation to him because I don't want him to think his way is better. And it's hard to give a compliment without defending my own self sometimes. Isn't that kinda sad?? That I would withold a pat on the back because of my own insecurities? He deserves better.

After 30 years, I'm still learning and growing. I really want my marriage to be even better in the next 30 years than it has been in the first. The only way that will happen is to accept and appreciate those things that make my man who he is, and then let him know how I feel about him.

POINTS: 30 for giving one compliment - with no strings attached - to your man. 

Don't fish for a compliment in return or think you ought to get brownie points.  Find something he does differently than you and give him some honest appreciation. Your words will be sweet to his ears and will warm his big ol' heart.

Every guy wants that and you're just the girl to do it.

Sick Humor

I was helping my son gather supplies for a backpacking trip, and realized our first aid supplies were getting mighty sparse. I was reminded of this Small Thing from 2009 and the funny story that went with it....enjoy!

You know how sometimes you see something that you know you shouldn't laugh about, and as much as you try not to, you just can't help it? 

Well, the other day my man and I were driving on our country road up to town, when we rounded a corner and saw the corpses of at least eight squirrels--all laying within a few feet of each other!  One after the other, there they were. All sprawled out in various stages of impact...some were pretty obliterated while others looked fairly intact.  As we passed by, I couldn't tear my eyes away from one of the squirrels who was laying flat on his back, arms and legs outstretched (obviously dead) as if his last words were, "Jesus, take me home!"

We looked at each other, then back at the massive roadkill, then at each other, and then my man said,

"What's with the squirrel carnage???"

We busted out laughing.  The CARNAGE!  Oh, Lordy, it was sick to laugh at such tragedy but even now, I keep picturing that last little guy with his portly stomach, belly-up to heaven like maybe he saw the massacre and just couldn't take living any more.

What was it, a mass squirrel suicide?  What could possibly be so awful in their nutty lives that a whole group of them would commit the ultimate act of despair?

Or maybe it was a case of incredibly poor judgment.

"OK, coast is clear, everybody cross NOW!"  Oops.

(wiping tears) I'm so sorry, girls.  I know it's horribly inappropriate, but it was just one of those moments that you wished you didn't find funny. 

Because it's not funny. 

Because it's sad. Yes, it's sad, that's what it is. Sad.

If only we could have set up a mobile triage unit, we might have been able to save one or two of them.

Speaking of triage, hey, what do you have for First Aid supplies? FEMA encourages us to have a first aid kit at home AND in each car. (Now wouldn't that have been handy?) A quick look tells me I've got enough band-aids and such stashed in different places all over the house. But it's not necessarily readily available.

As far as having kits in the cars, we do pretty well when we go on road trips, but never think of it in the day-to-day travels. Even a ziplock with a few items in the glovebox would be a good idea.

Today's Small Thing is to assess your First Aid Supplies. 

Look at the list below and then add what you're missing to your next shopping list.  There's never a fun time to buy anti-diarrhea medication, but it's even less fun to have to run to buy it when you are desperate.

You can get pre-made first aid kits here, and most drug stores.

POINTS: 40 for assessing your triage unit and putting what you need on your shopping list. So EASY!

 

To keep it easy, here's FEMA's list:

First Aid Kit

Assemble a first aid kit for your home and one for each car. A first aid kit* should include:

• Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
• 2-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)
• 4-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)
• Hypoallergenic adhesive tape
• Triangular bandages (3)
• 2-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)
• 3-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Needle
• Moistened towelettes
• Antiseptic
• Thermometer
• Tongue blades (2)
• Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant
• Assorted sizes of safety pins
• Cleansing agent/soap
• Latex gloves (2 pair) 
• Sunscreen

Non-prescription drugs

• Aspirin or nonaspirin pain reliever
• Anti-diarrhea medication
• Antacid (for stomach upset)
• Syrup of Ipecac (use to induce vomiting if advised by the Poison Control Center)
• Laxative
• Activated charcoal (use if advised by the Poison Control Center)

Contact your local American Red Cross chapter to obtain a basic first aid manual.

Which items are YOU missing?

 

Memorial Day Thanks

 

To all the men and women who have served the United States of America.

To all who have given their lives for the sake of freedom everywhere.

We are forever grateful.

Thank you.

 

Paper Chase + Company Girl Coffee

via organizedhome.com

Of all the things that pile up in our homes, paper is one of the hardest to deal with.  Every day there are receipts and bills, junk mail and magazines, school papers, art projects, tax forms....and it's difficult to know what to do with it all.

The Organized Home has some great suggestions for organizing your papers, and I really need those tips this week. With school ending, it seems like the paper piles are multiplying faster than a family of rabbits.

Today's Small Thing is to tackle a paper issue.  

You might just take a few minutes to file things into folders, or maybe it's just a matter of throwing old junk mail away to make the pile smaller.  The other day, I stored loose receipts into ziplock bags and just doing THAT made me feel so much happier! It didn't make my paper problem go away, but it made it seem more manageable.

Try creating an "Action File" with files labeled "To Pay," "To Do," and "To File." That alone will conquer the baddest of the paper problems!

POINTS: 40 for working on a paper problem...see if you can whittle away a pile!

BONUS:  20 for sharing your paper tips with us!  How do you deal with all the paper that comes into your house?

Whew, I'm ready to take a load off and enjoy some virtual coffee with you. It has been quite a week, with Lauren's baby coming and getting her settled, and then getting back home to "pick up where I left off."

To participate in this World's Easiest Meme, simply link your blog post into the linky tool below! You don't have to have a fancy post prepared, but we'd like to get to know you! What is going on in your life? Do you have a paper pile - haha? A before and after pic of your containers from yesterday's Small Thing?  A photo of your pet? We are easy to please around here....you get to choose the topic.

Have a great weekend! Save a cup of coffee for me!

Contain Yourself

I'm back home from spending five days with Lauren and Robert and their gorgeous new baby. (Check out the post below to see some darling pics!) A care calendar is starting up and friends are lining up to bring meals for the next few weeks, so they will be well taken care of in the food department.

As I worked in my daughter's kitchen, I noticed that she has a nicely organized cupboard for storage containers. Bowls and lids - that match - are stacked and easily available. This is going to come in really handy when leftovers start piling up from the generous meals they'll receive.

I am inspired to straighten up my own conglomeration of storageware, which is not so neat right now. I have a crazy mix of sour cream containers, Rubbermaid disposable containers and just about every other brand of container. I have lids that don't fit anything...but I hang on to them just in case I can marry an odd pair. You never know.

Today's Small Thing is to straighten up your storage containers. 

Are they all thrown in disarray in a drawer or cabinet?  Do you have a bunch of lids waiting to be matched with their container, only to realize that no container will ever come to them?  Put them out of their misery by tossing those lidless containers and containerless lids out, and making room for the pairs that actually work.   I've got a whole bin full of singles taking up precious space that I can get rid of today.

If this job scares you because it seems too big, set a timer and give yourself 10-15 minutes MAX and then stop.  

And hey, do some showing off!  Post "Before and After" pictures on your blog, drag a family member over to see your handiwork, tell a friend what you did, or leave a comment!  Enjoy the rush of container excitement when you see how organized you are!

This is a job that makes you feel incredibly organized and powerful, you'll see!

Points

Brand New Baby

I'm late in getting this post up today, but I'm excited to share a few photos from this past week. Thank you for bearing with me as I've been "hit and miss" with my posts. Ivy Grace is about the sweetest little thing in the world, and getting to be part of her first week of life with my daughter, Lauren, and her husband, Robert, has been one of the highlights of my life.

 

Here is Ivy, brand spankin' new - just minutes old on May 16.

Ivy Grace - photo by Heidi Thadon-Pierce

 

Breathing in baby-ness. She smells sooo good. Lauren's expression in this photo is priceless...Oh, I love that girl and I'm so proud of her.

 

I loved every second I got to help hold, diaper, burp and cuddle. I've already invited Ivy to tea parties, cookie-making lessons and sleep-overs at my house. She was delighted to accept, and plans are already in the works for the next 20 years.

 

This photo, along with the other black and whites here, was taken by their doula, Heidi Thaden-Pierce. She did a fantastic job documenting the labor and delivery...she captured the emotion and the beauty of this event perfectly. It was a very tough labor, with a rare complication that added hours to the pushing stage. I'm so glad they have these photos so they can remember it all in a way that embraced the difficult process and celebrates the incredible miracle that came from it.

 

I had to include this one because this is where Tom and I got to meet Ivy for the first time, and congratulate Lauren on a heroic labor and delivery.

 

Robert - the new Daddy. He is already a great father and seeing him love his daughter gives me a lump in my throat everytime.

 

She found her thumb right away.

My heart was really full, when upon close inspection, we determined that this fuzz is strawberry blonde. I've been hoping for at least ONE red-headed grandchild, and it appears my prayers have been answered.

 

I could not stop marveling at the perfection of this baby, and the beauty of seeing Lauren become a mother. I almost have no words to describe it....but in those moments of wonder I felt a little piece of God there with us. There is so little that I understand about the world and the things that happen here.

 

But this I know: 

 

For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
 My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
 Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with you.

Psalm 139: 13-18

 Thank you, Lord. You are good.

 

 

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Company Girl Coffee 5.3 + Grandbaby Coming Soon

Ivy Grace is Here!

Tops

I'm still at my daughter Lauren's house, helping her and Robert get settled with baby Ivy. Ya'll, she is soooo precious! I could literally eat her. I'll post some pictures tomorrow, but as I write this, it is 2:30 am - I've been up with this little bundle awhile and am wondering how I could have forgotten how exhausting newborns are!

I'm reposting this Small Thing from sometime in 2012 because it's so easy....and because it's something I know I need to do in my home. I thank God for Small Things to accomplish each day - the little tasks that give me a sense of direction and movement when I get stuck in inertia, or overwhelm, or simply tiredness. Possibly even boredom.

Today's Small Thing is all about tops. I started noticing the tops of things the other day, when I happened to run my finger across the top of my coffee maker and realized I could draw a design in the dust. Ew. And I thought I'd just cleaned that. From there, my gaze went to the top of my stove vent hood. Oh mercy. Really, Rachel? Suddenly I noticed that the tops of every thing in my kitchen were dusty.

I am still afraid to look at the top of the fridge.

So I moved on to the next room, simply observing tops. Tops of picture frames. Tops of tables. Tops of lamps. Tops of books. Tops of electronics. Tops of vases. Tops of baseboards. Tops, tops, tops.

Tops. Basically, they are dust magnets!

Today's Small Thing is to fill in this blank: "Today, I cleaned the top of my _______________."

Now, if you are an indecisive person, you'll have to overcome your propensity to procrastinate and simply PICK ONE THING for your blank. What you can do is this: whip out a dust cloth, damp rag or feather duster and hit the high spots of a bunch of things as fast as you can. Then, find something odd or super high or perennially ignored for your blank fill-in. My refrigerator top comes immediately to mind....

What top will you tidy today? Fill in the blank in the comments today...let's see who's got the TOP top!!

POINTS: 40 for one top, 10 each for up to 3 more (70 max)

 

P.S. I'm praying for the people of Oklahoma in the wake of the awful tornadoes yesterday. Do you know of the best way to help them? I want to do something in the relief effort and would love to know your recommendation. I cannot imagine what they are going through.

In the Groove

Groovy, man.

 

We might be the last remaining people in the United States who have a sliding glass door. When we first moved into this house, we had to replace the original sliding door. It would have been the perfect opportunity to put in French doors......but no. I suppose we were counting our pennies and went with the least expensive route at the time, but I sure do regret that decision.

Not so much for the style issue, but for the groove issue.

The grooves in the track that holds the doors collect dirt like crazy! I am always picking leaves and clumps of dirt from the grooves, and vacuuming it with a skinny attachment every chance I get. Even when it's clean, it doesn't really look clean.

But I'm feelin' groovy today, and I'm going to tackle those tracks. Let's be groovy together and find anything with grooves that need attention.

Today's Small Thing is to get into the groove.

"Groove," you might say? "I don't got any groove."

Ha! That is no excuse. Everyone's got at lease SOME groove! Even a white girl from the midwest, like me, who was raised by Norwegian Lutherans. It's in there, just waiting to get out...so let it flow, baby.

Let's put on our thinking caps and totally find your grooves:

Sliding doors

Window frames

Soap dishes

Shower mats

Small appliances

Large appliances

Car consoles (those things that hold change - yuk!)

Refrigerator water dispensers

Decorative edges on furniture

Laugh lines

Jewelry

Rubber welcome mat

Shoe soles

Computers- grooves all over the place, if you look

WOW! Girl, you got LOTS of groove! I'll bet I've only touched the tip of the iceberg....there's so much more just waiting to be discovered. Help us list even more grooves - and then get in there with Q-tips, brushes, cleaning cloths and vacuum attachments and bust a move. 

You might want to break out the tie-dye T-shirt for this one. And sing "Feelin' Groovy" by Simon and Garfunkel...you know you want to.

POINTS: 40 

for attacking at least ONE area groovy area 

What grooves did you find? What attachments/tools did you use to clean them?