Falling off a swing written by Sarah who is 7

Sarah my daughter wanted to post something on the blog and drew pictures for her story.  This is an unedited version of her story of why you should not fall off the swing.  If you happen to stop by today --- she would be tickled pink if you left her a comment about her story.

Why not to fall off a swing by Sarah ......

This is about why you   should not fall   off of the swing.  Oh  and   by   the  way   Dawns  doter  is   writing  this .Do  not  fall  off   of   the   swing  because   it  hurts.   I   got   a   groing   stran   it   does  hurt   and   it   can   keep   you   from   dance.     It   hurts to run   sometimes   it   can really   hurt    when I’m doing nothing.   I   put an   ice pack on my leg.  Oh   and   sometimes it   hurts   to   walk.  Ibprofen is the pill that I take.  So  that is why you should not fall off a swing.

Have you ever fallen off a swing?

 

drawing by Sarah

 

Neighborly Love

Mondays are RAK on our street

Garbage day on our street means you only have to take the garbage cans to the curb.  Once emptied our neighbor rolls our garbage cans from the street to our backyard where our two rambunctious dogs reside. This in itself is kind and thoughtful.  But he shares the kindness by performing the same act for three other neighbors each week.   It is such a sweet gesture of neighborly love.  I am not sure how long he has been doing this and cannot remember ever thanking him.  So, today we did a  sidewalk chalk drawing and maybe tomorrow a Fall Apple pie.  What do you think?   

Do you have a neighbor who performs Random Acts of Kindness?




inspiration for this from lillightomine.com
 

 

 

 

 

October Giveaway Winner!

Thanks and Congratulations to AubreyLaine for her comment on what is your favorite book and why?   Her favorite Book is "To Kill a Mockingbird."   If you have a minute today read her comment.

Aubrey Laine ---  Email me where you would like me to mail the $25.00 gift card at
alittlehelpnowandthenblog@gmail.com

Have a fabulous Monday from A Little Help Now and Then

Fall Apple Pie

This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook- try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!”

                                     Julia Child, My Life in France

True fall weather today -- perfect for baking an apple pie.  Last weekend I volunteered to make two apple pies.  Having never made a successful pie crust this was going to be a challenge.  To my amazement the pies actually turned out quite well. With a success under my belt I ventured making an apple pie for my husband.   

New knowledge for me -- adding vinegar to the dough will guarantee flakiness.    

ingredients for crust - flour,cornstarch, sugar, salt, egg, vinegar, cold water

 

core, peel and slice apples, add lemon juice, brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt

  

once pie is assembled brush top crust with an egg/water mixture

 

Fall Apple Pie

  

Truth be told – cooking makes me nervous and stresses me out.  There are some who can look once at a recipe and make amazing dinners.  I look at a recipe and have to read it six times.   My safe list of things to make is short but reliable.  I long to be that woman who looks at a recipe and can add here and take away there and create a masterpiece. 

This past year my safe list of things to make was expanded. There is a feeling of accomplishment and joy when a new dish you are making actually looks and tastes not so bad. 

However, this past weekend I made a cake for a friend as a house warming gift and the cake got stuck in the pan and would not come out – after several attempts and a broken plate in the process the entire mess went in the trash.    I made a roast in the oven and the gravy dried up in the pan.  Oh well, we all have those cooking mishaps but are you supposed to have two in the same weekend?

 

What is your favorite pie? 

 

 

 

Life begins in a garden

A flower garden represents simplicity and harmony with nature. My flower garden is years in the making and always a work-in-progress. One day while antiquing we spotted a ceramic statue of a maiden basking in the afternoon sun. Instantly, I knew she was meant for my humble flower garden as she beckoned for us to purchase her for merely $25.  Each day she welcomes a host of butterflies, hungry squirrels, and fanciful ladybugs.

Leonardo Da Vinci said, "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."

What do you love about your garden?

 

Melanoma and Floppy Hats

When the doctor calls and leaves a message for you to call back it cannot be good.........

Having light colored hair and complexion, freckles, and blue eyes, sunbathing in your youth and using oil (soooo stupid...)  is a bad combination for skin cancer.  In 2009 a mole was removed because it looked suspicious and all was great until 2012 when the mole decided it just could not stay away and wanted to return to a happy home.  So, once again the mole was removed, but this time those nasty little cells decided to mutate and become Melanoma.   The first thing the nurse said is, "Do NOT look this up on the internet."  Really - isn't that what we do - research like crazy and what a plethora of information there is on the internet.  Okay, bad decision.....

The good news is that is was Stage 0.  This basically means the nasty cells were on the surface of the skin and did not penetrate into the lower layers where it then spreads. 

After crying for three days (because having cancer once is bad enough but two times is absolutely ridiculous and totally unacceptable) it all seemed better.  My very best friend (on her own and without my knowledge) researched tons of websites and put together a Cliff Notes version of  Stage 0 Melanoma.  Seriously, who does that???  God sends Angels exactly when we need them and the true blessing is that it was caught in the early stages and they were able to get a clean cut around the mole.

Three weeks later ---  I am wearing sunscreen everyday, sunglasses, a floppy hat, long-sleeved shirts, and having check-ups every three months. 

Today at 2:00 a.m. ---- At twilight, where dreams first dwell, I rememberd a scripture Psalms 27:14.  "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart:  Wait, I say on the Lord." 

He is ever mindful of us --and knows us, remembers us, and comforts us

A little help now and then is not so bad 

To floppy hats and clean health I bid you good day





October Giveaway $25 Barnes & Noble Giftcard - Favorite Book

To be eligible:  Leave a comment on the blog to this question

What is your favorite book and Why?  The best answer wins the gift card.  Winner announced on Monday, October 8th. 

Books should transport us to enchanting places we have never been, take us to worlds where imaginations run freely, touch your heart, bring about action, change, and reflection, allow laughter to our souls, teach us of who we are, who we can be, and place within us dreams to yet be fulfilled. 

When selecting a book it is the cover that determines the purchase for me and tells me that this will be a good book.  This process has yet to let me down. 

For summer reading (for the 2nd grader) we selected a book solely by the cover and found an absolutely delightful story of the Penderwick Family by Jeanne Birdsall   – A summer tale of four sisters, two rabbits and a very interesting boy.  The Penderwick Sisters - Rosalind, Batty, Jane, and Skye take you on their summer adventures, courageous acts, matters of the heart and what is it to be young again.  A remarkable book to read with your children or grandchildren.   

Check out Nest for Celeste by Henry Cole – also a great book to read as a family. 
 
Then make a pretty bookmark with a jumbo paper clip and tie ribbons on the end.  Enjoy!