Two Frog Home

This week’s favorites in no particular order:

• Cupcakes that taste like the orange creamsicles of my youth, yes please
• I love getting outdoors and sometimes just reading and seeing what other folks do when they get outside
• I’ll just be starting some seeds indoors this weekend, but this Soil Block Maker is something I might have to invest in for next year
• I almost hate to ruin this for those who didn’t read it, however; Walter’s April Fool’s Post was the best ever!  I totally fell for it.
• A great reminder that inspiration and do-it-yourself repair can be found anywhere if we just keep looking for it

Phelan over at A Homesteading Neophyte  gave me a perseverance award.  Thank you so much.  I saw your post earlier this week and was overwhelmed by it, it never ceases to amaze me how things happen in a Godly time.

I was feeling rather moody earlier this week.  Like anyone, with lots of dreams and goals, I get discouraged sometimes.  Sometimes I feel like everything is so far out of reach.  I begin to wonder if I can possibly accomplish everything I dream of, can Jeff and I make all those silly late night “pipe dreams” come true?  I try not to dwell on those thoughts, because I do believe the greater part of life is made up of my disposition not my circumstances.  I don’t write about those thoughts often either, not because I don’t have them, but because I sometimes fear that putting them down on paper, or the computer screen, somehow gives them more validity than if I just let them run their course in my mind, eventually I get tired of those thoughts and just move on.  Phelan’s award came at a time when I needed to remember that life does require a lot of perseverance sometimes.  Sometimes we just have to put our heads down, get to work, and suck it up. Is it always pleasant?  No.  Is it worth doing?  Absolutely.

In the words of Adrian Monk, “here’s the thing:” the best things in life seem to come by hard work in my opinion.  I’ve accomplished a ton, and want to accomplish a lot more.  However, no matter what, I’m incredibly blessed and if this is the best that life gets, so be it.  I’ve already got it much better than a good percentage of the world, and I know it.  Sometimes I need to be reminded that I am a very spoiled American woman who has been incredibly blessed and I shouldn’t take that for granted for one millisecond.

The good thing about not taking it for granted is that I can suck it up and persevere, because honestly, I’m good at that.  I’m not bragging, its true.  I know and have known for a long time, that no one is going to hand me my dreams, so while I may not make them all come true - I’ll die trying and I’ll persevere until I’m on my death bed, because I believe without that, I’m not really alive anyway.

Phelan passed the award onto 5 other bloggers and I’m going to do the same.  While many bloggers inspire me, just check out my 5 Friday Favorite posts, these 5 in particular have inspired me in their own perseverance at various times over the years:

• Tansy over at Dancing in a Field of Tansy
• Maria over at Dirt Under My Nails
• Deb over at Sand Creek Almanac
• Nickie over at Girl Gone Gardening
• Shannon over at Not So Virtual Homestead

This week’s favorites in no particular order are:

• The Seed Saver Urban Garden Kit idea over at the Unusually Unusual Farmchick.  I’m definately in for the idea, and look forward to seeing how she flushes out the idea and her plans.
• Sometimes I need to be reminded that every little bit helps and not to feel such despair about the problems in the world, instead do what I can and pray for the best, thanks to Robbyn for reminding me.
• Need I say more than Dark Chocolate Tangerine Truffles?
• Thanks to Soule Papa & Soule kids over at Soule Mama, I think I’m instituing a little “kookin” time in my on life every now and then.
• I have a fondness for both halibut and chickpeas, so this recipe over at Dulcedo was one I must keep and try at some point soon.

In the car last week, I stumbled across a parenting show on the radio.  Normally I would have turned it off rather immediately, because I’m not a parent, but something apparently caught my attention and I listened for a while.  The message was based on this idea that every day and everything you do as a parent has one of two effects either: 1) it strengthens your relationship with your child or 2) it weakens your relationship with your child. 

I thought on that for a while and decided to apply that principle to my life and goals in general.  If I think about that before making any decision, it’s actually quite powerful.  I’m going to try and focus on those questions when faced with any new opportunity or decision: Is it going to strengthen or weaken any of my goals or relationships?  If the answer isn’t a decided yes it will strengthen something, then I need to look at that very closely.  For the record, I don’t believe this means all work and no play, in fact, I believe its a stronger case for more fun/play because in doing so it strengthens my relationships with loved ones and God.

I think this idea behind strengthening and weakening also calls for action.  I have to do rather than think about or read about doing.  I need to keep my focus small, not read every journal in the blogosphere for ideas but rather put ideas into action and use that action to serve.  I need to be sure that in making decisions and taking actions to strengthen things that those things serve God, the goals Jeff and I have for our life, and my fellow human beings and the planet.  Every minute I spend reading about how someone else lives their life, keeps their home/garden, cooks, studies scripture, etc. and comparing myself to that is a minute I might waste.  I tend to spend too much time doing that - reading and surfing blogs instead of finding and applying the really good lessons to my life.  I’m learning that if I keep my focus small, read only the journals of folks I’ve gotten to know on some level or who have consistently inspired me, I’m much better prepared to do rather than read about doing. 

The interesting thing is that the smaller my focus, the larger my growth and joy.  Life can’t be joyous 100% of the time, that’s not reality, but if I can focus on God, my Jeff and other loved ones, and not focus on comparing my life with others, I can be content in my reality.  That contentment leads me to wanting more and looking for ways to protect that contentment and strengthen the ways I go about achieving my goals.  In the end, I have no doubt that stumbling upon that radio program was a bit of Divine intervention/inspiration, and for that I’m very grateful.

Don’t you just love my new banner?  I know I do.  The banner was done by Darby of Darby Art & Design.  If you happen need to some graphic design work, I can’t recommend her highly enough.  Thanks babe, you’re the bestest!

Stephanie over at Adventures in the 100 Acre Wood gave me this lovely award.  I’m honored, truly the idea that I could possibly make someone’s day that I’ve never met outside of blog land is humbling.

Stephanie picked 5 blogs to pass the award onto and the five I’m picking (this was no easy feat) are:

• Sand Creek Almanac
• Sugar Mountain Farm
• Slowly She Turned
• Berlin’s Whimsy
• Posie Gets Cozy

I know a lot of blogs keep a list of their favorite reads for the week.  I love these lists because I find a lot of great stuff that way.  I’m going to jump on the bandwagon and list five of my favorite reads of the week on Fridays.

This week (in no particular order) my favorites are:

1. Tansy’s Household Binder posts - What a creative, useful and inspiring binder she has created!
2. Spaghettipie’s February Detox plans  - As a constant list and goal maker myself, I was inspired and a bit in awe of what she and her hubby have planned for February.
3. Knitting Iris’ Table Runner - I recently “discovered” this blog and am delighted to find out she’s a fellow Montanan and a super talented woman.  I love the button border on this runner.
4. Tia’s Cupcakes - Seriously, I ate them all in my mind and didn’t gain a single pound.  In real life, of course, I would still have eaten at least half by myself (shared with Jeff, of course) and gained at least 10 pounds.  But oh how yummy they look.
5. Jennifer’s Valentine Utensil Holders - These are two sweet and simple not to do for that special Valentine’s meal.

I do love seeing how people find my little blog.  Some recent favorites include:

• American frog canning company
• frog themed care package
• what does frugal mean on a frog
• gift wrapping guru
• the two frogs and more

I do need to investigate the American frog canning company…  In all sincerity I hope the searchers find something here they find useful.

The care package winner is Maria from Dirt Under My Nails fame.  Maria, I sent you an email this morning, to get your mailing address, etc. 

Thanks so much to everyone who entered.  Your comments warmed my heart.  I promise there will be more giveaways throughout the year because I love doing them so.

I’ve mentioned plenty of times before that I do love putting together a nice care package.  I did a few giveaways on my old blog, but have yet to do one here at this new home.  Let’s change that.  If you’d like to recieve a care package from me, just simply comment on this entry, be sure to leave your email address, and I’ll enter you to win.  You must sign up by 5PM (MST) on Friday, January 25th to be included in the drawing.

Contents of the package are still be flushed out but you can be sure it will contain at the very least: something handmade, something baked (do let me know in the comments about allergies - nuts, etc.), and something Montana related.  The package will be customized depending on the winner and I promise that the box will arrive stuffed with love and various material goodness.