Afraid

What's at the root of all this world's troubles?  Here's my answer, written late last year.


It's in you
That fear you try to hide
It's no use
For it won't stay inside

You fear it
Try to keep on smiling
Fear smiles
'cause inside you're dying

Don't show them
What you're really feeling
They can't see
When from pain you're reeling

Keep going
'til life snaps to an end
Not sharing
No care to others send

Fear yourself
As discouragement grows
It destroys
Seeds of Bitterness sows

Speak a lie
Be angry in your speech
Trust no one
Don't listen to them preach

In the end
When you're beyond all aid
You'll have lost
Because you were afraid

Sarah Erhart,  2012

Constant Change

    There are those days when you just feel like you can't get anything finished, and each time something is almost finished your day's plans get changed and you have to go do something else.  Have you had one of these lately?
    Well, we've been having almost constant change here in MO, particularly in the last month or so.  Among the changes are these;
-We changed the hedgehog's name.  He is now Sir Lance-a-lot   :-D  And we went from having 1 hedgehog to 4 (that's Thistle, above).
-Our fish tanks increased from 4 to 10 (each person MUST have their own, in case you wondered).
-My siblings have been having birthdays and giving me new numbers to remember.
-I removed my shop from Etsy, since I will not be able to keep up with it for a while.
-My life has changed from "crazily boring" to "crazily busy", because...
-I'm changing from "stay at home sister" to "out-of-state volunteer"!
   Yep, that's right.  I'm officially leaving home!  Preparation is being made for my departure, and the entire house is in an uproar.  I will go mid. August, Lord willing, and will be serving as a Kitchen Aid at a nursing/convalescent facility.  I'm excited and nervous!
   I'm of the opinion that my blogging is exceptional.  Exceptionally erratic, that is.  :-)   I've been blogging about once a month, although I skipped again last month.  And I'm wondering how I'll find time to update my blog at all once I leave home.  Please have patience with me, and thank you for visiting!
   Here are a couple of semi recent photos. Feel free to laugh!

  














This is me, and my dog Viva.  I have no idea what I was laughing at, or why I'm apparently "holding down the dog", but my sister caught this photo and I had to share.  I think Viva was laughing too!

"I couldn't find a comfortable position on the couch, so I thought I'd try the sink..."  This is Iris, the family cat.  She sleeps about 20 hrs. a day.  So much for cat naps!

 

Clouds have been few and far between here in central MO.  Aren't these beautiful?!

 That's all for today!  May you have a blessed week, full of confidence and strength!

Of Prickly Things and Craziness

   Life has been a little crazy lately.  I'm pretty sure that anyone could say that, at any given time, and it would be true.  Since when was life a mundane cycle of ordinary?  And what is "normal"?  Anyway, here's a few quick snapshots of "My Crazy Life";

 

April Showers Bring May Flowers.  But my roses bloomed in April!  Mom and Dad bought Rose bushes for my birthday last year, and the blooms this year were delightful!

My day lilies bloomed in May.  They are a native MO variety, and I enjoy seeing them every year.  They sway and laugh in the breeze, cheering everyone who sees them.

I've been making things to add to my Etsy Shop and to sell at my family's sale booths this summer.  SharaiStyle by SarahStylin', open for business!
www.etsy.com/shop/sharaistyle

 And now for the Prickly.  Meet our new hedge hog!  He doesn't have a name yet, but we children are calling him Cider for now.  He is a Ruby eyed Cinnacot in color.  We love him!
      Yes, between getting a new pet, doing our usual household chores, and crocheting on a daily basis, life has been very busy.  But, I'm happy to say, the work is worth it!  When I'm feeling run down and overwhelmed, I stop and look back on all I've accomplished so far this year.  When you add up all the little things,  I've done a lot! 
   If you're feeling over worked, overwhelmed, or incapable of making a good difference in the world, think;  How many people would miss you if you just disappeared? How much harder would it be for your family to get along if you weren't there to help out?  Even if you're thinking "Sure, I do small stuff.  But all I did today was put cold cereal on the table, load the dishwasher, read a book to the 4 year old 4 times over, and talk to a friend on the phone", remember,  this is the stuff that counts.  You are making a difference!
           Be Blessed!

Jonny Diaz - Scars Official Lyric Video

                            I've been inspired and encouraged by this song today.  Whatever you may be going through, or have experienced, remember;  The trial will make you stronger!  Be strong, and be blessed!

Such is Life

  Guess what?  I skipped blogging for the entire month of April!  Sorry about that, folks,  I'll try to be more consistent from now on.
  April was national Autism Awareness Month, as well as being my birthday month, so my mother bought me a book about a girl with autism and her struggle to be understood.  It's called 'I Am In Here', and it is co-written by Virginia Breen and Elizabeth M. Bonker.  It is a wonderful book, and I would definitely recommend it to any one with even the slightest interest in our special people.  You can find the book at www.iaminherebook.com  along with a wonderful blog about Elizabeth's journey.
  April also ended up being an EXTREMELY busy month for my family.  We had birthdays to celebrate, business expo's to attend, and a million other things to get done.  All in all, it was wonderful and fulfilling.  We are trying to get a wee bit of rest now, before beginning all over again in June.
  Speaking of June...  We live just off the old Route 66, and the Route 66 Summer fest is just around the corner!  If you happen to be traveling through mid MO on June 2, be sure to stop in Rolla and check it out!  I haven't been to one of the festivals yet, but I've heard they're wonderful and they're expecting great things this year.  My family will be there this year, too, and will have a booth with the name of 'Improving Life'.  Come by and see us!
  I hope to post some new pictures soon, as well as finally finishing my blog design.  No time now, as supper has to be served and 101 other little things finished before bedtime.
      May you have a wonderful Summer!

Moving

   Hey everyone!  I just wanted to let you all know I'm currently moving things around on my blog.  Some things are or may be missing for a little while (my blog list is down, at the moment), but hopefully I'll get it all straightened out soon.  What do you think about the new look?  Do you have any ideas, hints, or tips that might improve the overall appearance of A Pinch of Everything?  I'd love to hear them!  
                            See you soon! - Sarah

Spring Beauty

   I don't know how it is for those of you in the East and West, but here in MO it seems as though the winter has gone and summer has come!  I'd always thought of spring as a time of cool breezes, light green buds, and flowers preparing to bloom.  We've had some of that this year, but the temperature has been quite high, and the trees have decided to suddenly "green up." Makes me wonder if the spring has decided to go on holiday for a year, and the summer has tried to step in and fill the time gap.  The winter has tried to help a few times, and brought hail on warm days, leaving us somewhat worried that we might have a tornado. 
   I took a few pictures this morning, after a light rain, while the trees were still drippy with raindrops.  I hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I enjoyed taking them!
   I thought these trees looked so happy and light, and as though a dryad might peek out from between them at any moment!

 

Dandelion, Plantain, and the acorn cap.  Two of these are edible, the other is just fun to play with. 
                             
                 
                              Redbuds, open and full of nectar.






An unidentified tree sprig.  It was such a pretty color of green, and I had to take a photo!

  More redbuds.  They're such a fun, dainty flower!

 I got a kick out of this last photo.  I found the plesiosaur in a man made lake next to our driveway.  Apparently, my siblings were playing in the mud and rain water yesterday  :-)






   And that's it for today's photos!   Seeing nature as it changes from season reminds me of a saying I read the other day:
            "Life is like riding a bicycle.  To keep your balance, you must keep moving." - Einstein

                                Have a blessed day!