Projects versus Partners

I love Spring! Spring means planting, growth, and new life. Spring means projects...for me sometimes this means "house" and/or "yard" projects. Spring means you get to dig around in the dirt. This past weekend the yard projects consisted of spraying my lawn for weeds, spreading ant killer around the house to ward off the little critters from invading my kitchen, fertilizing my rose bushes, and attempting to nip the bag worms on my shrubs in the butt. But today I got to do one of my favorite projects! I got to plant flowers in my flower pots and dig around in the dirt before church. This made for a happy Savage Girl! 

Before I could plant my flowers I had a little project on my hands. So last night I started the flower pot project. I like to reuse items that I have on hand if they are still in working order. I have two really nice strong and durable flower pots that I have used probably for the last 6-7 years. I have had to paint them for the past several years to give them new life. They were an eye sore last night when I started the flower pot project. Last year I had painted them green, but the green paint over the winter decided to chip away leaving a black mess.  

Flower Pot Project "Before"

My mission was to distress the pots and make them look aged, so I took a gamble and experimented with using equal parts paint and Johnson Paste Wax to create a color glaze to paint on the flower pots. Basically I mixed the two products above together and painted them on the flower pots until I had the desired look I was after. 

The end result of phase 1 of the project. 

Phase 2 consisted of spraying the flower pots with a clear spray paint to seal in the color after the color glaze dried completely. Then I had to wait until the flower pots were dry before I could plant my flowers...I'm a little impatient, so I started planting....but I saved the ones above till last:)

I purchased a few new pots at the Dollar General Store to carry out the green and black "look" I had going with my newly repainted flower pots. Then I added a little dirt and some plants...and I was off to planting. 

My updated front door after today's project. 

The end result of my flower pot project :) I think they turned out pretty sweet! What do you think?

I planted a few other things because I got a little plant happy at the two greenhouses I visited. Hopefully I can keep this little guy alive! All of the ferns and succulent plants came from a greenhouse in Hartsville, TN and the annuals I got at the Monroe County High School Greenhouse that supports the local FFA chapter. 

  My tipsy pots! I've had these for the past several years and I love them because they give vertical and visual interest to my yard. Today I planted it full of new flowers for Spring and Summer. FYI there is a steel post in the ground a couple of feet that the clay pots are hanging on.

My favorite quote of the day came from John Pippin tonight at the Mt. Gilead Spring Gospel Meeting, "You need a partner not a project". I have lots of projects going on all the time as you can tell from my post tonight, but a relationship with someone else should be a partnership not a project. With projects you transform and change things...or at least try to change things, but a partner is a person with whom one shares an intimate relationship with. So until I find that "partner" in life to share with I am seeking to be content with waiting for "the one" and I am striving to strengthen my relationship with God. "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" Matthew 6:33. 

Weight ~ The Reality Series

Yes, I am going to blog about a work program on my personal blog! Call me crazy, but it is something that I believe in and want to be successful. Here is a press release I just sent off to the newspaper about a program that I having coming up in Monroe County. It is call "Weight ~ The Reality Series" and it is open to anyone. Continue reading for all the details. I hope that you will join me in the series if you want to be healthier too! If you need to contact me my information is below also.  

Warm temperatures and sunny days add up to spring fever and that means getting outside and becoming more active after a long winter. For some warm temperatures, also mean that many will begin to think about their body. If you are anything like me then shorts, bathing suits, and tank tops give you the heebie-jeebies! Whatever the case may be, it is important to make sure you are healthy and have a plan in place so those heebie-jeebies do not send you into hiding for the summer. If you are in search of a new program to help you think about your body in a real way instead of how the media wants you to think, then look no further. The Monroe County Cooperative Extension Service is offering a new program that you might want to take advantage of this Spring & Summer!

Weight ~ The Reality Series is an 8-week series we will offer on Tuesdays April 30-June 18. We will explore an aspect of weight control through healthy eating and living, share healthy recipes and ideas, weigh in, and engage in learning about the human body. Based on the latest research, this program gives you more options to create a plan that will work for you. Whether you’re interested in learning some new ways to eat and be active, or exploring how your clothes influence the way you see your body, Weight ~ The Reality Series offers many choices. There has to be a better way to achieve a healthy weight than the latest fad diet! You’ll learn how to make your plan flexible and to keep it working over time.

I know my personal goal is to be healthier and reduce my body size. Heart disease and diabetes run in my family, so over a year ago I decided to start living healthier. So far, it has paid off and I have been able to lose over 50 pounds. If you want to reduce your body size like me, then this series might be for you. Your concern might also be your health, but you might also be thinking about looking better in clothes, having more energy, enjoying new and favorite foods, being able to move more easily, and feeling better about yourself. Whatever your case may be, consider joining us with our new series called Weight ~ The Reality Series.

We do not yet know how people maintain weight loss after the 8-week course. National research suggests that maintaining a lower weight is very difficult, but one way to succeed is to create your own program designed specifically for you.

The series dates are April 30 ~ May 7 ~ May 14 ~ May 21 ~May 28 ~ June 4 ~ June 11 ~ June 18. The series is open to anyone and will be held at the Monroe County Cooperative Extension Service. We will weigh-in each week from 4:30 p.m.—5:30 p.m. and then we will have a short program at 5:30 p.m. The cost is $10.00 and is due by April 30 when you weigh-in. If you divide $10.00 by the 8 weeks that is just $1.25 each week! At the end of the 8-weeks the participant losing the most percentage of weight will win 50% of the “money pot”. The remaining 50% of the “money pot” will go towards costs associated with running the program and for door prizes that will be given away throughout the series each week. The winner will be announced on June 18. If the group wants to continue the series in July we will continue and/or if new participants want to join the group that can do so at that time.  

If you’re ready, so are we. Contact your Monroe County Cooperative Extension Service office to register for this series. It’s a better way to a healthier you. Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

Leadership via Moses

Tonight I was reminded about true leadership while attending a local gospel meeting. Here are seven key things that I learned tonight. 

1. Moses was a man of many successes. His goal was to lead his people out of Egypt and into the Promise Land. He took action within his life and exhibited leadership by allowing God's will to be used within his life. He wondered in the wilderness for 40 years, but he eventually made it to the Promise Land according to Matthew 17:1-4. 
2. Leadership is not "power over people" but it is "power with people". The power and action within leadership comes when we "power WITH people" instead of making things a dictatorship and having "power over people" by telling them what to do. The key is work together to reach a common goal because together we are better than one. 
3. Our differences when working on teams and within groups is what makes us stronger because we become more challenged. When we are challenged we become more vulnerable and we begin to open ourselves up and that is when we begin working through problems and progress is made. Being comfortable is bad, because it shows that we are not open to differences and challenges. Step outside your comfort zone and challenge yourself to something new then you will see your true inner strength. 
4. Experience is how you react to things...not what happens to you. See the beauty in your experiences instead of the cause and effect it might have on the things you might or might not get to do.
5. The worst sin ever...is rebellion! Submission takes wisdom. Moses was helped by his father-in-law, Jethro, to to see that one must submit unto God even if others that are to follow you do not listen and follow your lead (Exodus 18:17-19). We must realize that "here" is damage that has been done. We must realize "why" it is a problem. And then we must take the solution given and do as God would have us do even if no one follows. The key is that we submit and do the will of God otherwise we'll be rebelling like everyone else. This might mean that we have to get out our "Muscle and Shovel" to dig deep to seek out the wisdom of God's word.    
6. We each are responsible for ourselves and only those things that we come in contact with that we can control. We each have choices to make. Others can influence us or make an impact on us, but ultimately you are responsible for you! You can choose to be happy, glad, mad, or sad.  
7. God makes the impossible...possible, the weak...are made strong and righteous, the lost ...are made His children.  As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not (Romans 4:17). 

What is your mission in life? Do you have a vision for your future? Does it include being a leader? Open yourself up and allow yourself to be used by God. A few of my goals this year have been to put God first in my life and to have a servant attitude & give back to others. My prayer is to be a faithful Christian leader and servant while being patient and content while waiting for God's plan for the next stage of my life to be revealed. What's yours? 

Fishing on the Savage Farm

Tonight I got the pleasure of eating dinner with my parents. My mama had went "fishing" earlier in the day for these lovely creatures and she was willing to share the "catch". This is one meal I would never turn down! I remember going "fishing" with my Pa Ralph on the family farm to "catch" these in the Spring time. Sometimes you would have a great day while other times you would come up empty handed.

These are morels but are more commonly known as "dryland" fish in the South. They are yummy mushrooms that are found in the springtime in the woods near fallen trees or old tree stumps and very moist dirt. They cost upwards of $200 per pound and are used in some of the finest restaurants around the world, but they can be found for free in the woods if you go "fishing".

Mama cooked up these little "dryland" fish for dinner tonight by battering them in cornmeal and then she deep fried them until they were golden brown. Needless to say these are not diet friendly, but yes I had to eat my annual dose of them.

  

Needless to say this Savage Girl is very satisfied tonight after having dinner with her parents!

My kind of "fishing" for "dryland" fish is "catching" them in the store! I like to give my "catch" as gifts. Mama got a box of "dryland" fish for Christmas this year. I caught them on a visit to Columbus, Ohio while at the NEAFCS National Meeting. I think the Savage Mama was happy with her gift, don't you think?    

Good Deals

I love a good deal and I also I love being able to stretch my money as far as it can go. Please understand that I purchase whatever I need or want as long as I stay within my monthly spending plan. I am fortunate to be able to do this because I do not have a lot of debt and I want to keep it that way. I try to purchase items second hand if possible or discounted. Now this is not always the case, and yes, I make exceptions to the rule sometimes!  

My new wardrobe...

I like to use the mantra of “buy used if you can...if the quality is great”. Recently my mom and I took a trip shopping to Lebanon, Tennessee. We visited a few local thrift stores because I was in need of a new Spring and Summer wardrobe. Losing weight has a few advantages! Both stores where we visited were half price because it was a special savings day, so we got lucky and got to save even more money! I found some great pieces to add to my closet! $64.39 got me 3 skirts, 3 dresses, 1 suit, 1 shorts, 2 pants, 16 shirts and 6 capri pants. If you did not count already that is 32 items! All of the items were either lightly or never used and all were name brand and fit nicely.

I also like to purchase items on clearance, with a coupon, or discounted. Yesterday, I went shopping at a local closeout store during lunch called “Kentucky Closeouts” and I got a deal! I have had my eye on a Keurig coffee maker for some time now, but I have refused to pay the high price. I knew eventually they would end up on clearance somewhere or in a yard sale, but yesterday I got lucky and found one in town! So for $25 I got a Cuisinart Single-Serve Coffee Maker which retails for $150 to $250.00. I think I got a great deal! I took a gamble because the store does not accept returns but I thought the benefit would be great if it worked because it would help support my morning coffee habit. I love that the coffee maker come with a reusable “K-cup” already. If you do not know about the Keurig coffee makers, a reusable “K-cup” is a feature that allows you to use your own coffee grounds instead of having to purchase the “K-cups” in the store.

The new addition to my kitchen...my Keurig coffee maker.
FYI I could not live without my Kitchen Aid Mixer!

With all my great deals and purchases aside here are some helpful tips & tricks and inspiration that I try to stick with when shopping:

• "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms" (1 Peter 4:10).
• Avoid places where you will be tempted to purchase items that you necessarily do not need “now”.
• For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. (I Timothy 6:10)  
• Avoid going to the store period. I know I will be tempted to purchase items unnecessarily if I make multiple trips within one week, so I try to limit my trips to the store to about once a week.
• Try to have a plan before going to the store and try to stick to your list.
• Use money to help provide for your family. According to 1 Timothy 5:8 "Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."
• Before making a large purchase, ask yourself “Is this the best use of my money?

Good luck getting good deals on your next shopping trip!