Spring Into Summer

I've been missing my blog.

I've been missing you, my dear friends!

Missing checking in with you and filling you in on what's happening here.

What's happening here?

Well, a lot of things. 

The very best important thing is...we were blessed to become Grandparents on May 5, 2015. Our oldest son and his wife had a son. His name is Maximilian David Pantley. He is a beautiful boy and he has brought the sweetness of babyhood back into our home! We are savoring every opportunity to hold him and pray for him and cuddle him.

What else have we been up to?

Well, not much on the handiwork, but that is soon to change. We have ideas and are now preparing a place to work. The craft room, at the moment, is not working out. I need to be where I can see what's going on, at least for now, so we're setting up a work station in the living spaces.

Lydia and I are, very soon, trying our hand at making our own soap. When we think we're ready, we will offer it for sale, along with other handmade items, offered by us and by some friends. 

Hurray for high hopes!

Working on our garden and cleaning out goat pens and sheds. We have 3 bucklings and 2 doelings that were born within the last couple of weeks. This year we are letting the Mamas feed them and not bottle feeding. It does free us up for other things.

That is a bit of a catch-up on the happenings in our neck of the woods. I have much to share, but this is a good start. It's good to be back. Lord willing, this is a new beginning.

 Thank you Dearest Savior for all the blessings You have given us. We do not deserve anything from Your kind hand, yet You bestow Your grace and mercy on us each day and provide our needs as You see fit. Praise you for every Home-Sweet Thing You have provided. May we live to glorify You in every area of our lives. Amen

Thankful For Simple Blessings!

Happy Day All!

Yesterday, I managed to get to a bit, a very small bit of thrifting...and was going to post some of the cloth-goodness I was able to purchase...but instead, I spent the day outside working and inside doing laundry. It was so windy today! What a good day to get several loads of laundry on the line! The stuff dries in no time! It brought kite flying to mind. Quite enjoyable...but you know me...I REALLY LIKE doing laundry! I'll try to share photos tomorrow.

I did get to take a few outdoor photos today while meandering around with my Home-Sweet #1 Son chatting about all the work there is to do this year around here. He's getting married in September, you know. They're trying to learn a bunch of things that will be useful for them throughout their married journey. She wants to learn handiwork, seed planting, canning...etc... They want to learn about caring for animals, and 9 of the Dixie Rainbow chicks I bought last week are theirs. I figured I couldn't go wrong at 50 cents a chick!

I'm not going to bore you with a bunch of chatting tonight, I'll share some photos I took outside today instead.  It was a lovely day even if it was windy. I enjoyed walking around with my son planning projects. We're going to be busy working AND getting ready for a wedding! This will not be a boring year for sure!

Blueberry Holes All Ready To Go!

Son #1 said he'd do it...and he did it! Notice how sandy our soil is. About a foot of topsoil and then pure river bottom sand. Not very nutritious for many plants, but blueberries don't mind bad soil, they love acid. Our yard used to be mostly pine trees, so we should be good and acid-y for them.

Pretty Bees Working In The Sun

Coming In For A Landing and  Communicating

Amazing...God's Handiwork!!! Awesome!! Notice How Fuzzy They Are!

Part of our livestock and livelihood is bees. Home-Sweet Husband keeps hives here and at a local farm. They provide beautiful dark honey for us and for many people each year. We already have orders for this year's honey...and it's not even harvested yet! It's in high demand!

This Is Lightning - He's A Proud Papa This Year!

Look at this handsome young Nigerian Dwarf buck! Home-Sweet Son #2 was astounded at how Amish looking his beard is! He's sweet too, not too rammy. He was one of the first kids to be born here two years ago. He's grown into a mighty fine buck! As I was walking past him I noticed he had hay on his head. He likes to use his horns to break up his morning hay flake. Silly boy! He smiles pretty for the camera too! What a ham!!!

He's Got A Wonderful Smile!

Flowering Quince Waking Up From A Long, Hard Winter

I have been checking on this quince for weeks now. Watching the buds get larger and larger. I was thrilled today when I went over to check it and saw buds and tiny leaves! Last year it even had one fruit on it . I think you can make quince jelly with the fruit from flowering quince. So pretty!

Well, that's a bit of my photo walk today. I was especially delighted and praised God to see the quince leaves out and the flower blossoms! I have been checking them for weeks! I like this photo and am going to send it off to my niece Alissa to make a new Spring header for me. She does a great job!

Now that Spring has arrived, we're going to be very busy doing many Home-Sweet Things! If we get to finish half of what we have planned, we'll be accomplishing much! There will be lots of hole digging for fenceposts, some butchering lessons, planting lessons and landscape things to figure out. In all our plans though we must say...'if the Lord wills'. It should be a very productive year!

Praise God for each day we have to see and appreciate the small blessings He gives. Take joy in each moment and breathe a prayer of thanksgiving for Our Heavenly Father gives us many things to enjoy, if we take the time to notice them! Thank you Father! Amen

What small blessings were you thankful for today at your Home-Sweet?

Home-Sweeet Homestead News For April 5th, 2014

It was a brisk October April day today. Chilly and gray! Not too good for outside work. I've been trying to clean goat areas little by little. Time consuming, but very necessary. Now that the snow is melted, I can see all the work to be done...and I have to think about how to eat an elephant! (One bite at a time!)

I've got some things coming up to keep me busy in the next few days. Today I received two elderberry bushes I ordered from Stark Bros. I've been wanting to go elderberry picking for a few years now and can't seem to beat the birds. At least with my own bushes I can put bird netting over them and hope to get some for my own use. Mostly medicinal, no, not wine.

I have 12 blueberry plants coming too. We used to go into the woods in Pennsylvania foraging for wild blueberries, but I don't know what I'd ever do if I met up with a bear and it's not something I want to find out. I was buying some from a man who grew them, but he was not local and getting to him was not always convenient. So, a one-time investment will take care of that and after a few harvests the bushes will pay for themselves.

I'm also considering grapes and will have to decide soon. I only have most of one usable acre, so I have to be strategic about where I place things.

Always learning something around here. New things happening and some of the old things changing. But that's how life is.

Mr. Home-Sweet and I went and picked up three bee packages last Friday in Kingston, NY.  He lost two hives this winter, which isn't bad, it's been worse. He's setting up to do some splits when the weather permits.

 We have three Boer/Nubian mixes that I believe will soon be sold for meat. It's hard to do that, believe me, but that's the way of it...and there's nothing to be done for it. Two of them I worked hard on last year with mastitis...oh my. But they healed up nicely. I just cannot handle them. They're strong and hard for me to control. I'm just not as strong as I used to be! I have to be serious about making things financially friendly too. It's not worth feeding all these goats with no benefit. People need to eat and they can provide it for them.

I will be moving plants to the front of the house too, to make a sitting/resting garden. The area they are in now will be used to grow food. It is my aim to grow most, if not all of our food this year. I do not know if I can accomplish it, honestly, it seems monumental, but I am going to try and hopefully I'll get better each year.

I've been studying dehydration and this seems like the best method for many things. I've been watching many videos, reading tons of different gardening ideas and off-grid and self-reliant information. So much out there.

I'll share this video, this couple knows how to utilize their 1/12th acre!

 

What plans do you have to improve or work your Home-Sweet this year? 

Praise the Lord for the gift of life and the ability to tend what He's blessed us with. We are truly grateful!

We must remember to always be grateful for all of God's gifts in our lives...we are so truly blessed. Living as good stewards in every area of our lives is also important. Ask Father God for wisdom and He will give it! 

Blessings!

Just a Whole Lotta Stuff!!! Mind Dump.....

Lately, in between daily everything, I've been cramming my head full of information. Thyroid info, Real Food Summit, Biz starting webinar and e-classes, Lupus study, Gluten-free eating/dining/cooking/living, green cleaning, superfoods, real foods, homesteading, dehydrating, holistic medicine, sewing, crocheting,...OH MY!!! Not to mention Pinterest...Dearest...that could so easily turn into a time snatcher for me...so many things to pin...so little time...and just when I vow to log off...something else catches my eye! Dangerous stuff that Pinterest!!!

Back to my studies...there is so much that can be learned in our information driven world! How to keep up with it all...that is the question on my mind today.

It was nice to take a break and go outside and do some goat pen cleaning and raking and mulching on my garlic. Physical work definitely has good mental benefits. The fresh air and sunshine help a body too!

Changing our diets to gluten-free has been wonderful! After struggling with candida for over a year, (and anyone who has had it knows what I mean when I say...struggle), gluten-free is really no big deal AND you can eat some things you couldn't when you were killing systemic sugar overload. But, growing up constantly taking antibiotics, what else could the outcome be? We had our share of earaches, sore throats and such...and most times...Doc Murray would pull that loooooooooong needle out of his bag at his visit to our home and fill our back ends with penicillin. When I was young and then into my teens, I lived on antibiotics because I always suffered with strep throat and tonsillitis. No fun!

Anyhow...Praise the Lord, that is history. They wanted to take out my tonsils, I wouldn't let them, I suffered, they prescribed and I lived. After many years it all caught up with me and I had to take care of it. With food...or the lack thereof. I very rarely get sore throats now, and never do I get tonsillitis or strep. And I still have my tonsils...thank you very much!!

I've also been studying holistic medicine and am quite interested in it. I am in the process of working on a 'natural medicine first aid kit' and will keep you posted. God has provided herbs and foods for us that heal, if we know what to eat when, our bodies can do what God intended them to do. As I study God's creation, I see the balance of how it all connects and points back to His wondrous, unfathomable mind and His love for those of us that breathe His breath. He is amazing and I cannot wait to see what else He has in store for those whom He loves.

He has made some powerful food in it's most basic state that is so good for us and nourishing for our system, it just astounds me. 'Superfood' is what it is called. (Those of you who already know this, bear with me please. LOL) One day soon, I will share a bit more about what I'm learning. The Father thought of everything...everything...of course!

With this fibromyalgia/hypothyroidism I am working things out naturally. I guess I'm stubborn...but I refuse to take synthroid. Thank God, I have options. Some are not so fortunate. Do I have pain and lots of symptoms? Yes, every single day. I have been taking Thyroid Health from Dr. Christopher, and my exhaustion level has subsided a bit. So, I am studying the link between fibro/thyroid health...and that whole system and what happens when it's compromised. Lots to learn...and I am my own guinea pig!!! Again I say, food is medicine-good food...which is not what they sell in the middle aisles of the store, for the most part.

Green cleaning interests me because I'd like to get rid of the chemicals that could very well be contributing to my poor (but improving, Lord willing) health. White vinegar, peroxide, salt, baking soda, borax and lemons all make good cleaners and laundry stain removers. Having fun with that. But...you know me and laundry...I like doing laundry! From sorting to loading to hanging it on the line...to once in a while ironing. Especially ironing! Favorite...I kid you not! I find it totally relaxing and love the smell of starch and the results!

Still dehydrating hot peppers...this is not a new thing for me, but I have been wanting to do a post on it, maybe soon. The history of it, benefits, storage, how-to...stuff like that...again...drying foods is something I am a total advocate of. It just makes a bunch of sense for a homesteader and 'off-gridder'. And there are a few dehydrating style options. Good stuff!

Well, at any rate...I've been busy the last while and it doesn't look like it's going to end any time soon. Still, I am enjoying myself and at some point hope to post some of my findings and lessons learned.

What extracurricular things are you studying to help those you love and your Home-Sweet? God has blessed us, truly He has. What will we do with all that blessing?

Thank you Father for Your wonderful might, so big it can create the universe and so small it can only be seen through special equipment. No accident, no chance...ON PURPOSE!! Yet, You hold it all together...for You are the One who measures the universe in a span! Wow...And that is where you hold us...in Your hand. All of it is just so awesome, it makes my heart sing! Praise the Lord!

Garlic is IN!!!

It's been a busy week here. I've been attempting to get some indoor things settled before the cold weather sets in. And there are so many things to get done outdoors...I could spend entire days out there, I think. One thing I appreciate about the 'blog world' is that it seems to keep us all accountable...in a way. At least aware of all the things there are to do to prepare for winter. It seems never ending and by the time winter's cold sets in, you really need the break.

The other day we were 'fixing' up a fence for Miracle to come back home. She loves to ram fence, and we do not have good 'goat' fence...so we had to reinforce it. Lydia and I. She never used a circular saw before, so I let her. I thought we did alright. Of course, Mr. says it looks like the Clampetts from The Beverly Hillbillies live here! But hey...we're talking about goats!!! Big goats...ramming goats! And it works!

 

 

 

Finally, after preparing the patch a while back...Lydia and I got the garlic planted! We set 145 bulbs...with room for a bit more. It started to drizzle. The template sure made things faster and the dibble and we got a method down and it just moved along. I did till it all up again, by hand...or should I say by foot...or both?  I used the garden fork to turn the patch over again. It was quite the workout! Invigorating to say the least. Of course I feel it now...but it was worth it. I was driving Lydia crazy with my straight row obsessions...but she handled it great, after she calmed down! LOL She's a bit more freestyle than I am. I need straight rows...I just do. We had to do a row patch over because the template moved crooked and I told her it would plague my long winter's nap knowing those garlic bulbs would shoot out of the ground willy nilly. SO...she let me fix it while she went ahead and kept planting. Good girl!!!

 

You can see from all the weeds growth that I let most of my garden 'rest' this year. It managed to grow some tall weeds. It couldn't be helped, Dave's Mom was with us again recuperating from a hospital stay. She's more important and God always provides!

We are having Thanksgiving dinner here again this year. It always turns into a crowd, even if some just come for dessert. This year it will be different though. Our entire dinner will be gluten-free. We are excited because for some reason, even though cooking GF takes a bit longer, we really enjoy it. So, we're working out the menu. Most of the meal will be cooked that day. Not much can be prepared ahead, as far as I know, maybe the cold stuff.

Speaking of GF...can I just say that Bob's Red Mill Brownie mix is YUMMY!!! I have seen recipes for home made brownies the last couple of days that we can try soon. As I said, this GF way of eating is fun. Lydia and I work in the kitchen together much more than ever and we enjoy ourselves. She enjoys it...which makes me happy, I like help in the kitchen and we get to spend time together.

On top of having the meal, I will be going through the house with a major cleaning spree. That's just what I do whenever I am having guests. With my strange limitations, and never knowing when that dratted fibromyalgia will start flaring, I started tearing things apart already. I can hear Flylady warnings whenever I think about tearing too much out!

Still, I have plans for winter too. That basement that has always been out of sight, out of mind...well, my aim and my great hope is to finally tackle it this winter. The wood stove is going and it is toasty warm down there. I have so many things to sell on Etsy...craft type things to get rid of. I'm sure some other artist can use them. If I do anything extra, I sew. Yet, I have plans to make a sign here or there. I'd like to make one that says, "Maranatha" and some other scriptures...or one word phrases that stimulate thought toward God and the heart posture. I'd also like to get some of my photos in order and use that Cricut my Mom gave me.

I wanted to mention, Quinn over at Reformation Acres has a giveaway for a wonderful product. It is from a family business called The Haven Enterprises. They work with wood and their hands to bring God's Word to life in your home. I, like Quinn, place God's Word around my home to have family and guests ALWAYS be mindful of the Lord, no matter where they are inside. Soon, I will be adding signs outside too. I want to be working on that this winter for spring. The Haven Enterprises makes trivets and cutting boards, all the way up to beautiful door post scripture, and I imagine something home-sweet for just about anywhere in your home as they do take custom orders. Simply the way God arranged it to be for a family...with Papa at home...if possible. The best way! What a blessing!

This is something I've been really considering a lot lately. What can I do here at home to bring Dave home or at least make it so he can be home more? I think plenty! With being more frugal in many places, to asking God to bless the work of my hands or to use my brain and this blog to not only help other women at this stage of life, seeking the Lord and seeking the Old Paths and learning all that that entails. I am right now taking a course on how to do just that. How to make it so my blog can not only be an outlet for me to share, but also something to bless others and make a difference.

I'll keep you posted on how it all works out! It's almost a 12 week course and I will be learning many ways to use my blog to bless and help others and get 'out there'...if that is the Lord's will. I have lots of ideas...LOTS!!! So...hopefully I will be able to learn a lot and pass it on  to others.

What are your chores to prepare for winter? Do you have winter plans?

May God bless you as you plan to settle in for winter in your Home-Sweet. I pray He blesses the work of your hands and grants you lots of strength to get done all you need to do. All for His glory! Amen

Passing Days...Routine...and All That Good Stuff!

I've been thinking about the routines of my life lately. To many, my life would be absolutely boring. But to me, I find that the regular pattern of the day is a comfort.

First off, quiet time with the Lord and jotting down chores and things on my to-do list. I made my own list in a print shop and it's quite handy for me.

Afterwards, I enjoy the rhythm of the way I let my birds out in the morning: first set of ducks, big chickens, walk around to little chickens - let them out, go to Mama and Papa Ducks and 8 babies and let them out...saying 'Hello' to the goats along the way...over to the pigs for feeding...working on fattening them up! Then inside for a bit of warm coffee.

 

(I just noticed how dirty these girls let their faces get! They simply adore rooting around! And if I throw them weeds...well, it's Hog Heaven!!)

After my wakeup coffee, it's back outside to do the goats' feed and hay and check bunnies and make sure everyone's water and hay and food is fresh. Maybe rake up goat area or chicken area...and back inside. As the days get shorter, the timing changes...but the routine is so predictable...and I like it that way!

I am trying to find the time to do some things extra inside the house. I'm not milking anyone right now, so you'd think I'd have more time to accomplish something. Au contraire!!! How  in the world did I get so much done when my children were little...and 4 of them no less? They're all grown now, with Baby Lydia just turning 19 years old on the 17th...the baby!!!...and I haven't a nicker of time anyhow...all day long! Why? Maybe because I'm older and slower?? Still, no interruptions...well, that's not necessarily true all the time. Yet, with the new year coming and the past year's assessments...I am going to reassess my time management. I cannot get that all figured out.

Alas...there are some things around here that must be done in a timely fashion, or I'm out of time for the year!

So, right now...it is garlic planting time. Can you guess what this is?

Or how about the same thing this way...

Well, this may give it away...

 

The book explains how to go from planting garlic to making garlic powder. We followed Mr. Kimball's method last year and got good results. This template Dave made for us should speed up the planting guide process...I just don't want to have to fuss with a tape measure. So, Dave made me this template according to Mr. Kimball's specs. He also gave me a bonus that I did not ask for...a planting dibble which will save time measuring out the correct planting depth for each clove. Hurray! So, the plan is to plant Monday. Seems that will be the next best day. Mr Kimball's site is called The Deliberate Agrarian and you can find it here.

Today was nice, but too windy for garlic planting and we also had plans to work in the small chicken coop and make our littles happy. Happy chickens...happy eggs...it's all good (and yummy)!

We had our first frost last night. Sad to see things wilty. Almost time for the earth to rest...according to God's routine plan set in motion in the beginning. The sun, moon, stars...planting times, plucking up times...according to Solomon in Ecclesiastes. So...I plucked up my wilted pepper plants. Lots of hot peppers to dehydrate. Not sure what I'll do with them after that, but I know the guys like them on everything. I had good results with my peppers this year. I'd like to get them in earlier next year. They did good though with all the rabbit manure and goat manure I put in the holes. My raised beds have beautiful soil in them. They loved it!

I couldn't resist taking a photo or two last evening when the sun was floating down toward the hill for the night. The sunbeams on the geraniums I potted quickly this year looked so pretty...and I am a geranium fan to say the least! 

I'll share:

 

I cannot help myself...a few more red geranium photos...

 

Truly one of my favorite flowers. I am not quite sure why...they just are!

Well, gonna go get some shut-eye...it's been a long day working outside. 

Hope to blog the garlic planting with my new template and dibble! I'll be sure to snap pics...put them up soon!

God bless you as you imitate Him and glorify Him with your Home-Sweet routines!

Tuesday Catching Up

Well, Monday is past and Tuesday is nearly over, so I thought I should put up a post to share what I've been up to for a couple of days.

Writing Desk is fitting in nicely, awaiting his color choice.  I have not ventured out for color swatches yet. I thought I'd go to Home Depot to see what they have. Not sold on green or pink yet, it it gets too crazy, I'll put it in a hat and choose.

I worked on the top shelf backing for Book Case. I must admit, I was totally and extremely filled with pins and needles of glee when I stepped back and gazed upon the frutition of what I imagined it would look like. It came out quite apiffy, if I do say so myself. It's done in a quilting style, only with scrapbook paper. You know me, I love the many things one can do with scrapbook paper!!! My Sweet Mommy sent paper home with me the last time I went to visit in Illinois-thanks Mom!! :)

Here is a peek:

this is the nearly finished product
of the top shelf of Mr. Book Case

I think it looks just like a quilt...and it inspires me to sew one now. Just a simple patchwork. I always wanted to make a quilt for each of my children. This certainly whets my appetite!

This Sunday past I cooked rabbit for the first time. A friend told me her children call rabbit '4-legged chicken' and I can see why. The meat cooks white like chicken, and really, it's close to chicken in flavor and texture. This has sent me to reconsidering breeding meat rabbits now and waiting on angoras for a bit. They were YUMMY!! I could not get my 'eldest' daughter, Nettie, to try any though...I guess she's just too citified (well, it's a long story really about pin feathers on chickens...).

Here is another pic for your perusal:

this is some of the rabbit from the frying pan ready to be baked

The whole process was really quite simple. I spiced up some flour with lots of thyme, salt, pepper, garlic powder and stuff...friend them on the stovetop, then moved them to the oven until the meat pulls from the bone...about an hour or so. I did not get a photo of the finished product because we were hungry from the yummy smell and it was devoured...sorry! I'll try better next time!

One last post and ending with a tidbit of a new painterly project for the ever-working painty brush!



What a task to get these to take the spiffy high gloss white paint! This will take a while, but it will be worth it. I am going to make myself a 'wonder wall'...or a 'dream wall' or an 'inspiration wall'...whatever you like to call it, I will be hanging things that I like there!

I did not forget about sharing my many beloved pets. I want them to look their best and most fresh...and it seems all our photos are of them sleeping...like this...

...and so now I will leave you with this sleepy keke...

God bless your Home-Sweet.

What projects have you been working on?

Why is a Raven Like A Writing Desk?

I do not think there is an answer to that question!

Today was just a wonderfully spiffalicious day! I'm telling you, trying to keep up with this blog is sure helping me get some projects done!

I was gifted this week with a quaint, old, brown writing desk. Very stylish, except for the chippy brown paint. Now, don't get me wrong, I like chippy paint as much as the next girl...but brown? And it reminds me of the muddy brownish color people used to paint their furniture to make it look like wood. It's just not workin' in my decor-know what I mean?

Just when I thought I could wash little Sally Mae Paintbrush and put her away in her plastic bin home, here comes the Writing Desk...and she was called to duty again! We both thought she'd done a marvelous job putting 4 coats of high gloss white paint on the almost finished Book Case this week, and she was looking forward to a little R&R. But, Sally Mae Paintbrush knows how to give it her all, and she has agreed to another round of painty goodness to help spiff up things here at the Home-Sweet.

Writing Desk in his
brown castoff sorrow

Writing Desk is a castoff. He was forlorn. He was painted in the most morbid shade of brown a soul could be painted. But when I saw him, I knew there was hope! I told him, "Fear not little Writing Desk-there is hope for you yet!" Today, in the beauty and the warmth of the sun, on the little front porch (that now also holds my small freezer that moved to make room for a sewing nook-and is waiting to move to the basement), I took off that horrid brown color with my trusty friend, P. Alm Sander. He is a hard-working tool, I must say! He worked and toiled and sanded away at Writing Desk until there was no more paint of any kind on him. Now he is quite bare and awaiting his new color.

Writing Desk's Drawer
with P.Alm Sander
and friends

I am thinking of painting him either a light whipped minty/milky green OR a light whipped milky pink. I have not decided yet, either color will go with my main colors, but it's got to be a color that can be lived with. Now I can live with pink anyday, but I am not the only one living here. Miss Lydia also thinks pink is a lovely Writing Desk color and she is a kindred spirit. I think Mr. Dave does not care what color I paint it as long as he does not have to eat dinner at a tray in the living room much longer! He seems to like eating at the dining room table for some reason! What a patient man he is! I took a general teenage concensus and green seemed to be the color that won in popularity. At any rate, the paint will be high gloss, whatever the color is, and there will be many coats applied and little Sally Mae Paintbrush will earn herself a good rest-unless another castoff comes my way. I seem to be unable to resist finding a home for castoffs. It is a weakness, I think!

Book Case awaiting
his spiffy
new backing

I am almost done with Book Case. The only thing left to do is the backing. I have a lovely idea that I will work on hopefully tomorrow and have it all bright and fresh to blog on Monday. I will also at that time chat more about gardening, since I have been a slacker and spent the day obsessing over sanding Writing Desk with P. Alm Sander. Alas, I had to stop when I ran out of sandpaper and was unable to finish the roundness of his spindly legs-which must be done nonelectric/by hand. So, his spindly legs and lack of high gloss pink or green paint are the cause of Writing Desk standing patiently in the dining room. He does seem to be fitting right in with everyone else in there though, which brings me much relief. So far, there has been good conversation between the pieces in the room. (It is such a task to make mismatched furniture get along. Know what I mean?)

I desire to take photos of my most important gardening tools at present. Since reading 'gardening when it counts' by Steve Solomon, it seems I lack in that area too. But, I manage to make do with what I've got for now. I do try to obtain at least one tool per year to add to my garden tool collection. I do enjoy gardening!

Speaking of books, I know I've shared my booklist of 'books I most-likely/will read', but I am also the type of person who reads by 'inspiration'. I was inspired to read 'The Practice of the Presence of God' by Brother Andrew and 'Mimosa' by Amy Carmichael and have since obtained 'If' by Amy Carmichael. I found 'Mimosa' very spiritually stirring and it gave me many things to think on, I thought in a more serious post I'd share some quotes that spoke to my heart. 'The Practice of the Presence of God' I am chewing on very slowly, at bedtime with the old Virgin Mobile flashlight cellphone that I have from years back. That is what I use for a reading light! I shall straightaway start 'If' as soon as I am done publishing this post. It is not a big book, but I can tell from the little scan I gave it that it will be a challenging little book as well.

Miss Lydia and her
chicken pal sharing
a granny scarf

I thought I'd share a couple of photos I took yesterday of Lydia with one of her chickens. She is crazy over animals of every kind. I asked her if she minded being online for all the world to see, she consented. I'm sure you'll enjoy this Mom...and the chicken told us after she's done with modeling for good! :) After this little photo shoot, we have decided to make little capelets for the girls just like Beatrix Potter did in her stories. Watch for them! Too much fun!!

If chickens could talk,
what do you think
this one would
be saying? :)

Does it not look like
this chicken is smiling?
Too hilarious!

I think tomorrow I will share photos of my menagerie of indoor animals. We do have quite a collection-you know-and I'd love to introduce you!

And that is all the news that is happening here, Friday, February 3, 2012. All in all I'd say it's been a very blessed day, and a very productive day. All glory to God.



I will add that I have also been 'practicing the presence of God' throughout the day. Remembering to speak to Him all through the day and to be thankful in every way and in all situations. What a Savior!


Father, I thank You that I can share bits of my day with my family and friends. Please bless them and teach them to practice Your presence as well and to always be thankful. Blessed be Your Name, Amen


Remember to practice His presence throughout the day as you work to make your own Home-Sweet and family an offering to Him! In His presence IS fullness of JOY!!!