What do you work for?

Good evening! It's almost midnight and I'm just starting today's blog. I had to be at work early this morning, but I got off early, too, so I felt it was a nice trade. When I got home around 1:30 I cleaned a little bit then ate lunch and read. Once Chris finished work for the day we had to clean out our flower beds out front. There was so many fallen leaves, and we didn't want them to kill our plants. Today was the only day we could do it this week because we're getting an arctic blast overnight that's going to last until this weekend. While Chris collected pine straw from the land I raked off all of the old pine straw and leaves, and let me tell you, when leaves and pine straw are wet, they're a lot heavier than you anticipate. I suspect I'll be feeling the yard work tomorrow, luckily for me, I'm off (tomorrow). I'll probably work in the house all day, there's always work to be done.

Today's blog is more or less focused on independent adults, whether that's single, married, widowed, or divorced. We as adults have to work to pay bills, put food on the table, keep your children in clothes, etc... Well, what do you spend your left over money on? Accessories? Shoes? Purses? Shells? Lures? Line? Going out to eat? All of these things are fine, but for some there's one thing that doesn't get the attention it deserves...the house. (Please note I said some and not all or majority.) Why do you buy a $100,000+ house and not take care of it? Why let mildew build on the siding? It washes off. Why let the paint chip all over, when you can paint it? Why let briars take over your yard where your dog lives and children play? In one afternoon you could clear up the briars. Why let junk pile up all around your house and let it ruin your yard, and make your entire house seem nasty? Your house could be impeccable, but if you leave junk everywhere, it will hide your house's beauty.

I feel if you're going to be paying on your house for the next 30 years of your life, then you should keep it looking good. My husband always says, "you work for what's at home." That includes taking care of the house. Don't let animal feces pile up and not clean it up. That's gross for one, but also, it will ruin your floors. Take pride in what is yours. Keep the grass cut, the garbage taken off, the walkway/driveway clear of leaves and pine straw. Be proud for what you have. You could live in an itty bitty house or apartment, but as long as it is taken care of, you won't even be able to tell. Give your house personality, make it your own, but don't let it waste down to crap because you'd rather spend your money on something other than taking care of your house. A lot of taking care of your house doesn't even involve money, just time and sweat. Quite unfortunately people are becoming lazier and lazier (thank you generation of technology) to where they'd rather watch the latest reality show then keep up their house. 

I honestly don't get some people's way of thinking. I'm not trying to bash anyone or put anyone down, I'm just trying to understand. 

XoXo,
Tia

Mayhem and Maniacs...It must be a Monday

Good evening! Boy, was I glad to see 5 o'clock roll around today, I don't know if it was the full moon or what, but the bank was crazy today! When I got home Chris said he would cook dinner, so I settled in on the couch with my kindle. What a relaxing way to end the work day. Chris cooked chicken and dumplings with the most amazing homemade biscuits! Now we're watching Criminal Minds for one hour so we can fast forward through all the commercials on the season premier of The Bachelor! Yay!

Lately, I've been thinking about my grandpa. He passed away this past November 21, so we had to go through Thanksgiving and Christmas without him. It wasn't easy. My grandpa was my first ever best friend. We spoke our own language. Growing up I wanted to do everything Grandpa did. He took me on "dates" when I was little. We would go to Baskin Robbins and share a banana split, then we would go to the Dollar Tree next door and he would give me $1 to spend. We would walk up and down every aisle, and I would look at everything. I think he taught me at an early age the value of a dollar. I still take careful consideration before I spend any money. 

My grandparent's took us on vacations to the beach twice, and one year I spent all summer with my grandparents at a lake house. That was probably one of my favorite summer's growing up. Their friend's were there too, and there was so many kids close to my age there. That summer we stayed up late, woke up early, went fishing, swimming; we went on boat rides, walked on lake islands. By the end of the summer my pale, porcelain skin was a nice bronze color. But, what made that summer the best one was that I was with my grandparents. They made my summer amazing!

My grandfather was 90 when he passed away, he had 90 wonderful years on this earth. He taught me about hard work and to stand up for what I believe. He taught me that blood doesn't make you family because family is who is there for you when you need them. He was always there for me. He loved me unconditionally and he always reminded me of that. He was my hero, and now I'm lucky because my hero is my guardian angel. Not everyone can say that. I was blessed to have grandpa in my life for 23 years. He began dating my grandmother in 1991 and they married in 1995. I was one when he entered my life. He made such an impact to me and my whole family. He was never afraid to tell anyone he spoke with exactly what he thought, he didn't care if it offended them or not. If he did offend you, he would say something like "I still love you though, but..." 

Earl Caldwell Maple was my best friend, my partner in crime, my grandpa. He lived in so many places and saw so many things with the military, so I can only imagine the surprises God has in store for Grandpa and all that he is seeing already. 

I love you, Grandpa, and until we see each other again, keep an eye on me!

XoXo,
Tia

Earl Caldwell Maple

May 02, 1924

-

November 21, 2014

P.S. I apologize if this entry isn't as composed and hard hitting as the 365 Days of Learning, Growing, and Being Thankful, but I wanted everyone to know my Grandpa.

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I am Tia, Hear me ROAR

Today is Sunday, and the sun is finally shining! Chris and I thought we were going to need a boat to get around town. It rained really hard for a long time, but now the sun is shining it's 60 degrees outside. The ground is drying up and the birds are flying high. It's a wonderful Georgia winter day, and it would be even better if the floors didn't need scrubbing, clothes didn't need washing, and dogs didn't need baths. However, I cooked a huge breakfast of corned beef and hash, homemade hash browns, scrambled eggs, and biscuits, and dinner is in the crock pot- or at least the roast is. We're having pork roast, pinto beans, cabbage, mashed potatoes, and corn bread. I wanted to have a nice dinner before the work week begins. I'm learning that if I cook a lot over the weekends then I can almost make left overs last until the next weekend. Although, if I am off on weekday I will cook a good, hearty dinner. We'll eat good today.

I'm thankful for my culinary background, it taught me so much life experience. I am grateful that Chris helped pay for my dreams when my scholarship ran it's course. I am grateful I was able to go to college and follow my dreams, even if I am not using my college education as a career now. I know not everyone can go to college because of money or other reasons, and I was lucky enough to complete my education and not have any student loans lingering over my head. It wasn't easy, but I did it. I finished what I started, and that was what I intended to. I understand how blessed I am to have people in my life who love and support me and my dreams. I wish everyone in the world could experience the support that I do. It's all encompassing,

I used to feel all alone, even when I was in a sea of people. I didn't feel like I was good enough to have friends or to accept love from family and friends. I was in a dark place and I didn't think I would ever feel good enough for anyone. Little by little I began seeing that I was good enough, I was worthy of love and acceptance, and if someone didn't like me or accept me than screw them. I am a wonderful person, and if someone can't see it then they don't deserve to be in my life. I was taking my life by the reigns, I was going to be in control. I had finally found my voice, and I was going to let everyone know. I no longer feel inferior, or not good enough. Sure, I am still self-conscious, but I feel so much better about myself because I believe in myself. I had a true Katy Perry moment "You're gonna hear me ROAR." I wanted to share with everyone that I had finally found my self-worth. It is almost entirely because Chris has never ending love and faith in me. He believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself. He showed me how to realize how much I was worth. He never once gave up on me, and I felt like I was a lost cause at first.

So, I guess this is me letting everyone know that I know I am worth something. I am worth love. I am a genuinely good person, sure this could sound as being arrogant, but I see it as finally embracing myself.

XoXo,
Tia

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Learning to Save and Grow

Good Evening, everyone! It's 11:40 pm here, and Chris and I are watching Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters on Netflix. I thought it was going to be kind of stupid, but it's pretty good, especially with a cup of Folgers Country Roast with Extra Sweet and Creamy Creamer. 

Today, I am thankful that I can go to the grocery store and not worry if I am going to overdraw my account just with buying the household staples. I went to Walmart today and I bought what we needed and wanted for the house. I spent $95 without any coupons. I bought 26 items, and I was expecting to spend more than I did. One year ago, I would have cringed at spending $95 on groceries, even though they were necessities. We were barely making it at this time last year, and today we're doing remarkably better. We're not where we want to be, but we've come a long way. This wouldn't be possible if we had not discussed our financial goal for the year. We discussed how and when we will spend our money. Our grocery situation has also benefited from the deer in the freezer, and the crops from summer that we canned or froze. 

Before Chris was in my life I didn't know how to can food, freeze fresh food, or shoot a gun. I am grateful for my husband's upbringing because he was able to share his with me, and we have benefited from his upbringing. I don't like to shoot animals (and I have yet have to because Chris has done it for me,) but I know that if I needed to, I would be able to. I could take care of business. (haha excuse my lame joke.) Some of my favorite things to do now are canning, freezing, and working in the garden. I talk to the vegetables, too. Sure, call me silly, but our crops have done wonderfully every year, and I am not saying they're connected; however, I'm not going to take a chance and not talk to them, just to play it safe. The best part of gardening is when you eat what you grow, and you know where it came from, what it grew in, who touched it, etc...My husband has a YouTube page where he will go into great details about how we do what we do and why. It is Keep It Simple 365. I think if you like what I've been talking about so far, then you will really love what he has to say. I know I do, but I could be biased. ;-)

I'm so thankful for what I have learned in the 5 years with Chris, and I am thankful he's taught me how to save money. I already knew how to stretch a dollar, but now I can save it, too. I guess, what I am really thankful for is my partner in life, my husband, my better half, Christopher. He has taught me all new ways of life that I didn't even know existed. He has changed my life in so many ways for the better, and I only hope that I have effected his life as much as he has mine. 

I guess this is a pretty short blog, but now it's after midnight and I have to work in the morning. I will leave y'all with this, "May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!" Psalm 20:4

XoXo,
Tia

365 days of learning, growing, and being thankful

Good morning! Today is January 2, 2015! Holy crap, 2015!? Where has the time gone? Well, 2014 was a year to remember. I got married, celebrated 1 year at my job, and my car lived to see another year, but it was touch and go for a while. However, I lost my grandfather on November 21, and the man who was like another dad to me on December 22. That was too much loss too close together, but we made it through another year. I am grateful to have had the time I did with those two men who meant so much to me, and I know when it's my turn to go, I'll see them again.

You don't fully realize how valuable life is until someone you love is taken away or you have to watch someone you love suffer with the C word. When I look at my nieces and nephews I'm reminded of their innocence, and then I look out into the world they're growing up in and it scares me. What world are we leaving them with? What examples are we giving them to live by? I know that in our/their family/families there are wonderful role models, ones that will teach unfaltering acceptance, ones that will teach them diversity, ones that will teach to trust in the Lord with all they have, ones that will teach them how to live off the land, to work for what you want, to hunt, to fish. When you look at the families there is wonderful role models, but they can't be surrounded by family 24/7 and they do need to experience the bad of the world, just so they can embrace the good with that much more gusto. If we teach them the good, then they can grow up and teach others. This cycle of ungrateful, privileged, entitled, I want what I want and I want it right now people can end. Maybe not anytime soon, but eventually. When people become grateful with what they have, and they don't covet what others have, when we don't "keep up with the Jonse's", then and only then can we move forward. You're always going to be stuck in a cycle of keeping up until you decide to be thankful for what you already have. 

We can't go on raising our children to be entitled or that they're always going to get what they want without even working for it. That doesn't teach them the real world, and then when they become adults what are they going to think? My husband and I have put much thought into this, and though we don't have children right now, we know that when we do, how we ideally want to raise them. I know things don't always go as planned and monkey wrenches do get thrown into plans, but if you raise your children to care for one another, and if you teach them hardwork and discipline, then there's a chance they'll teach their children that, too. Then without even thinking about it, we've created a whole new and better cycle. We could potentially raise a generation of people who are grateful for what they have, people who aren't entitled, people who just want to see good things happen in the world. 

I know some of you are saying, you don't have children, you don't know what it's like. You'll understand when you have children, but no, I get it now. We have to break out of these cycles. We have to help one another out, we can't be petty or selfish. The world doesn't help those who only help themselves. 

I don't know, this probably sounds like a bunch of rambling, and it probably doesn't make sense. I just had to get my thoughts out and share my beliefs. What this world needs is a lot more Jesus and a lot less entitlement.

XoXo,

Tia

What's Cooking?

Once upon a time I used to love to cook. Every aspect of it. From the shopping to cleaning up, everything thrilled me. I loved to throw ingredients together and see what the outcome was. I loved having people over to taste my cooking. Culinary school was well worth it to me. It taught me valuable experience, however I quickly learned that restaurant cooking wasn't for me. I didn't like the hours, and I didn't like not being able to dictate what I cooked. I was given orders and made to cook what the guests demanded. Restaurant and Assisted Living Facility cooking quickly killed my high for cooking.

 My passion and flair is still there, I can feel it, but I don't have the drive anymore. I want so much to come home from work and cook my husband the most delicious of foods, but 9 times out of 10 we eat the same meals routinely. I have a plethora of cookbooks and knowledge, but after I work all day (whether at work or around the house) the last thing I want to do is stand in the kitchen for 2+ hours cooking. Cooking deserves time. Sure, there are crock pot recipes, which are Heaven sent; and then there are recipes that take 30 minutes or less to cook, and those are wonderful, too.

I just want to cook something that when you walk in the door your mouth begins watering and your stomach growling, and by the time you take your first bite your thinking, "There's no way this will taste as good as it smells," but then your mouth is undergoing an explosion of flavor and you close your eyes in ecstasy. In that moment you know this is what food should always taste like. My mouth is watering now envisioning the most savory of dishes washing over my palate.

I don't know the point of writing all of this, maybe trying to get myself back in the mood of cooking something extravagant. Whatever it is I am going to go find something to cook with what I have in the house. If it turns out good there may be pictures. In the words of the famous Julia Child Bon Appétit!

XoXo,
Tia

Things are Changing

Good afternoon readers! Today in Carrollton, GA I believe we have record breaking cold weather, it's the coldest it's been on this day. Before today, the record was held in 2000. That's just a random fact for you.

Last Wednesday was an emotional day, and it hasn't gotten much easier since then, but I am coming to terms with the inevitable. There comes a time where you will lose people close to you, and while it will never be easy, you have to learn to accept that they will be in a better place, no longer sick or in pain. That's where I'm keeping my mind right now. Soon, their suffering will end. That in itself is an answered prayer. I pray that the Lord's will will be done and that peace will settle on the minds of those I care about. 

So, now that I've put into words how my heart is feeling, I think I will tell y'all about mine and Chris's way of life.

Let's start in February. Every February we begin cleaning and getting together all of our fishing gear and we begin fishing in February. The fish we catch we clean and eat or freeze, or sometimes we throw them back. We continue fishing until about September. We fish from the bank and a boat. Though, personally, I've never had much luck from a boat.

In March, we plow the garden and plant our seeds. We have corn, okra, tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, peas, cantaloupe, and watermelons  that we plant every year. We also have perennials like strawberries and blue berries and grapes. We work the field from March-October. We eat some, but we mostly can and freeze it all. 

In October, after those crops are finished we plant our winter vegetables, collard greens, cabbage, lettuce, mustard greens, turnip greens, and peas. We once again, eat some around Christmas time, but we fresh freeze them, to have at a later time. These come up around the end of December to the beginning or middle of January. It just depends on when we get them in the ground. 

Now, in October/November we hunt for one deer because it will feed us until the next year. For example, we have around 50 pounds of deer alone in the freezer right now. 

We don't hunt to just kill and we don't garden to let it go to waste. All year long we work to provide for our house. If you sit in the woods long enough, you will see that it could supply you with everything you need, if you know where to look. You may not have everything you want, but you'd have everything you need. The Lord is good like that, he will supply you with what you need, all you have to do is let your needs be known. It's important to not confuse your wants as needs. 

For everything that we have, we give thanks to the Heavenly Father. When we have food and heat. When we wake up next to each other every morning. When we have all of our needs met, we give thanks. When we are struggling, we turn to Him, when we need help, we turn to Him. We lift our voices up to the Lord when we need him and when we just want to talk with Him. He is the most perfect listener. I guess, that's the point of this blog. It took me a while to get to it, but there it is. When in doubt, pray it out. It's not a "one step, quicker picker upper," you may need to continuously pray, but the Lord's greatest gifts sometimes are unanswered prayers.

XoXo,
Tia