Only a Southerner

Some "Southern pride" things tend to irritate me. However, my mother-in-law sent me this email and I just thought it was adorable. It reminded me of a post Sarah did some months back, talking about "You Know You Live in Ireland When..." Anyway, I'll share some excerpts and maybe it'll bring a smile. All of these portions of the email are ones that I personally relate to. :-)

• Only a Southerner knows the difference between a hissie fit and a conniption fit...and that you don't "have" them, you "pitch" them.
• Only a Southerner knows how many fish, collard greens, turnip greens, peas, beans, etc., make up "a mess."
• Southern folks know the summer weather report before looking: humidity, humidity, HUMIDITY!
  
• Only a Southerner can show or point out to you the general direction of "yonder." (For me, everything is "over yonder" lol. Jeremy: "Where did you put the keys?" me: "erm...over yonder")
• Only a Southerner knows exactly how long "directly" is, "Going to town, be back directly." This word is more properly (in Southern-speak) pronounced "dreckly." (Just yesterday, Ethan had asked me when I was going to be done working on a chore and I said "I'd be there directly." He looked so forlorn and said, "But Mom, how long is that?)
• Even Southern babies know that "gimme some sugar" is not a request for the white, granular, sweet substance that sits in a pretty little bowl in the middle of the table. It's a synonym for kisses, of course!
• Only Southerners grow up knowing the difference between "right near" and "a fair piece." They also know that "just down the road" can be 1 mile or 20.
• No true Southerner would ever assume that the car with the flashing turn signal is actually going to make a turn, nor would a true Southerner expect a turning vehicle to first signal before turning. (a huge pet peeve of mine. I use my signal always, but I think I'm the only one in town who does!)
  
• A Southerner knows that "fixin" can be used as a noun, verb, or an adverb. (noun: "having a seafood dinner with all the fixins." verb: "my husband is fixin the van." adverb: "I'm fixin to go to the bank.")
  
• Only Southerners make friends while standing in lines (e.g. the grocery store checkout) ... and when we're in line, we don't mind talking to everybody!
• Southerners know that grits come from corn and they know how to prepare and eat them. (YUM!!)
• Every Southerner knows tomatoes with eggs, bacon, grits, biscuits and coffee are perfectly wonderful, that red eye gravy is also a breakfast food, that sawmill gravy is different than red eye gravy, and that fried green tomatoes are not a breakfast food.
• When you hear someone say, "Well, I caught myself lookin'," you know you are in the presence of a genuine Southerner! (my husband's favorite phrase is "I caught myself lookin', thinkin', wonderin', or whatever else)
• A true Southerner knows that you don't scream obscenities at little old ladies who drive 30 MPH on the highway. You just say, "Bless her heart..." and go your own way.
• A true Southerner will always use "Sir" or "Ma'am" when speaking to his parents, grandparents, or any other adult one generation older than he is.
• For a Southerner, the only thing that beats going to a barbecue is going to a peanut boil!
  

Posting Few and Far Between

So the "repost" doesn't count as a real post. And the Daybook post is only a partly real post. This means that my last "real" post dates all the way back to June 9th. I had second trimester energy on June 9th, LOL!!! Now, with only 64 days left, I am feeling like a third trimester, hot, swollen whale. It's hard for me to believe that it's almost August. Where did the summer go?

Okay, going all the way back to June 20-24th. We took the teenagers to youth camp and had a blast. We always love taking the youth to camp. I think we look forward to it just as much as they do. However, I very much hate leaving my babies. They hate to be left, even with grandparents. Well, all except Lydia. She was the only one who cried when we got home...but moving right along... We took a group of 8 girls and 7 boys. We had 3 of the girls accept the Lord as Saviour during camp!! This was the third year that we took the youth to PCC's teen extreme youth camp. As far as activities and preaching go, it's a great camp. As far as standards go ... we'll just say it's typical *grumble*. We also told the youth that this would be our last year in the youth ministry. There are many, many reasons, none on which I will elaborate here. Primarily, we feel like the Lord is ready for us to leave it. I am excited to see what the Lord has for us, but it's very bittersweet. I really love these teenagers a lot. I want to be a part of their lives. I enjoy seeing them grow in Christ.

Our last official Sunday will be September 4th, which is promotion Sunday for Sunday school (I think). Then we'll be in a Sunday school class. I am partly excited about it. I was in Sunday school for about the first 6 months after I got saved. Then I taught 2 and 3 years olds for a while. Then I was back in Sunday school for about 3 or 4 months. The rest of the time I've had some hand in a class (young adult or youth group). So, I feel like I've been essentially teaching a class for 13 1/2 years and have been "in" Sunday school for only a few months.

Our church's VBS was July 11-14th. It was a very different experience for us. It was the first time in I-can't-remember-how-long that I haven't taught VBS. I kinda did the sound room some ... I sorta did this and that, but I didn't have a "job." So, I felt sorta worthless all week...like I didn't earn my keep or something. Now, I say all this with a grin. I was, by no means, despondent or angry or anything like that. I'm just used to being busy. Not being busy was an uncomfortable adjustment.

We also have decided to start school. Our first day was July 12th. After receiving some criticism from "real-life people" (opposed to Internet people), I tend to be more closed with what we do with our schooling. I did mention that we were starting school the week of VBS to some folks who looked at us as if we were space aliens for beginning in July. (soapbox) First, who cares?! It's my responsibility. Second, why do people have this perception that if it doesn't equal what the government does it is wrong? Third, my kids were finished with school when the government kids were just on spring break. Yes, our kids have been out since April. Last I checked from the end of April to the beginning of July is about the same time as from mid-June to mid-August. Fourth, they are bored to death and are actually asking to go back to school. Fifth, since I'm having a baby in September, I'd rather get some of this year under our belt before baby arrives. Sixth, having part of September and the whole month of October off, a week in November (Thanksgiving) and 2 weeks off in December (Christmas) sounds wonderful!! (/soapbox)

I know that I'm probably missing a golden opportunity to potty train Josiah. More than once he has come to get me, taken me by the hand to the potty, pulled his diaper down, pee-peed in the potty and flushed. I'm really not too sure about potty training now though. What's holding me back is knowing that I won't be able to pick him up for 6 weeks in September, following my c-section with Noah. Getting up every 20-30 minutes doesn't sound doable either.

Oh yeah, I think we've finally pretty much decided on Daniel Noah for this little peep. Since I have a brother named Daniel, he'll be known as Noah. We just didn't like it the other way around. Noah Daniel sounds like Know-a-Daniel to me.

I am so completely jealous that my brother and sister-in-law have this beauty.

I, on the other hand, am still very much pregnant, hot, and swollen while my sister-in-law is looking more like herself. I mentioned this to a nurse at my doctor's office sort of tongue-in-cheek, to which she replied "oh, you don't want your baby to come now, do you?! It's way too early." I answered, "of course not, but quit being rational with me. Can't you see I'm pregnant in July and will be in August and September?!" LOL Don't try to rationalize with a pregnant woman!!

Jeremy and I are praying about buying a separate building for homeschool. It would be nice to free up some space. One of the companies that we are looking at sells buildings that have a 150mph windload and are certified by the Florida Building Commission. I'm thinking hurricane strength here.

I'm not saying this is the one, but we'd like to have a building in a similar style to this one. We could do wiring and insulating ourselves easily. It's just something to pray about. :-) We'll see what happens.

I also found a 4 loaf bread recipe that I've tweaked to my liking. Hopefully I'll post the recipe with my changes soon. Looking at my track record, however, I'm not making any promises!

hmm...I can't think of anything else to catch up on.

A Repost

This is one of my own posts that I published back in 2009. For whatever reason, I keep thinking back to this strange occurrence with a chuckle. I thought I'd share (again) what's been on my mind lately.

~~~†~~~

You know you're living rural when...

... you see a loose donkey at the end of the driveway!

And then you see him get escorted home by police.


If you click to enlarge, you'll see the donkey being led by the driver of the utility truck and a police squad car following behind.

The Simple Woman's Daybook - July 1, 2011

What do you do when you know it's been almost a month since your last post, but you've had so much going on that you don't know where to start? Make a Daybook entry, of course!!


FOR TODAY - July 1, 2011

Outside my window...
hot, hot and humid. Fortunately, not as hot as it was last week. There has been some slight break in drought, which is a blessing beyond words.

I am thinking...
of how blessed I am in simple things. I got a text last night requesting prayer for a 22 year old woman who was dying and leaving behind a 2-year-old. This week also Katerina requested prayer for a family who lost their 10-month-old and also, the ongoing need of prayer for Logan Watts, the little boy who fell from a tire swing and was severely brain damaged. Thank God the only "crises" I've had today are bickering over a toy and skint elbows.

I am thankful for...
a God who is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble.

From the learning rooms...
we are hoping to begin this school year within the next few weeks. It just makes sense for us: the kids are mostly indoors due to the heat and are rowdy. Also, we'll be able to take a nice furlough from studies in September when our new baby arrives.

From the kitchen...
some bread! I have not made bread since Josiah was born because I only had one loaf pan. This meant that I was needing a loaf of bread every day or two. Now I have 4 of the same pan and can make several at once! I also want to make my favorite granola bar recipe. It's a food network recipe by Alton Brown which only has 4 stars on the website. These people who say theirs turned out wrong must be meatheaded; I've made this recipe a zillion times and they are perfectly delicious without fail.

I am wearing...
a white knit pullover with colorful daisies and a denim skirt. Oh maternity clothes, how I do NOT love thee.

I am creating...
I did some sewing projects before we took the teens to youth camp. Now I'm down to needing to do some mending: the boring stuff.

I am going...
perhaps to the grocery store tonight. My brother and sister-in-law who live in Gainesville is home for the weekend. I typically do the grocery shopping every other Saturday or Monday and I'd rather have these times open for visiting. :-)

I am reading...
A Love That Multiplies by Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar (my gift from Sarah). I was reading Created to Be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl until the Duggars' book came in. I'm also reading various selections from the New Testament epistles and the book of Joshua in my Bible.

I am hoping (praying)...
for more rain!! I can't emphasize how dry it is here. Although Texas is getting the headlines now, and rightfully so, we too are in a D4 (exceptional) drought. It hits hard when your livelihood depends on people cutting grass. :-)

I am hearing...
Lydia who is by me, coloring on the dry erase board. She is telling me every detail about her artwork as I type.

Around the house...
there are so many more projects I want to finish before summer's end. Although we have made a lot of progress, I want to clean all the cabinets with Murphy's Oil Soap. Then there is always garden goodies to put away.

One of my favorite things...
is listening to my daughter talk. She comes up with some of the craziest things!

A picture thought I am sharing...

The artwork afore mentioned.



And the stories that go with the artwork!