Almost a Month and Lots Happening

As I showed in my previous post, we had concrete floors.  Now, we are pretty close to having them done, minus the threshold pieces.  It looks so much nicer than bare concrete!

The living room floor after flooring installed.  It's lovely!  

From the other side of the room.

Photo Bombed by Biscuit

Getting Gus acclimated to the pool...or just having fun putting him on the inner tube.  LOL

Biscuit's turn! 

A graduation celebration dinner at church.

Visiting with Grandparents and one special uncle.

"And these alligators are found in the Flint River?  I guess we shouldn't swim in there!"

Beautiful daughter with her sewing machine.

The living room window that needs a treatment of some sort.  I'm not sure what, but since this window is so huge, it will probably be something simple.  We have new pillows that I found at the local W*lmart on a 2 for $12 deal, so I couldn't resist adding more color to the room.

I just love my drive home!  This area is so beautiful!  (Sorry for the bug splat on the windshield!!)

The view out my front door.  This is such a quiet neighborhood, it is almost like living in the country!

The morning this picture was taken, I was on my way to get my blood work done and to talk with my Dr about the Trim Healthy Mama Plan (THM) life changes I've been making, as well my right knee.  I found out that my right knee is "bone-on-bone" and it gets worse when I ride/drive for long periods of time.  The verdict?  Less riding/driving, less walking, more THM cooking, and more swimming.  With my blood test results back, I know that I can rest assured that THM is working!  I've lost 35 pounds, my Triglycerides decreased by half, my A1C is 6.1 and my fasting is 105.  I've not seen those wonderful numbers in YEARS!  You betcha I'm sticking with it! 

Strong young men hard at work, replacing worn out steps and putting in new concrete.

One side of my office is going to be a sitting area and I think I have a pretty good start with these wonderful pieces I found at a yard sale and an online facebook flea market group.  The wing back chair is a reclining chair.  The side table is an antique from the 60's or 70's, the lamp I just loved, so I bought it for a good price....and.

...the magnolia swag that I thought was so pretty.

In the next couple of weeks, I'll finally be able to get some curtains up on the dining room window, my oldest son's window, the office, and hopefully our bedroom.  With everything being so busy, I'll be able to sit down long enough to get my sewing machine out to work on some stuff.  I also plan to keep my eyes peeled for more furniture for the sitting area.  I love decorating "on the cheap."  

Have a Great Day!

God Bless,

Looking Toward a Homesteading Mindset

For years Mr. G and I have researched a homesteading lifestyle.  We have focused on the work and the sacrifice not only of our time, but our resources as well.  We've researched raising chickens and milk goats for starters.  I know we will eventually branch out from those two types of animals adding in pigs, turkeys, cows--for both milk and meat--as well as horses.

What is the "allure" to this mindset that is drawing us to it?

We have been drawn to a more simple, down-to-earth type of lifestyle for a very long time.  We already can food, hunt, and garden, so the next logical step is to add some chickens, then goats and so forth.

My husband and I have watched a show Alaska: The Last Frontier on Netflix to see what the folks on that show experience.  I know they deal with a lot of hardship and the push for time is extreme in gathering and growing food as well as putting it up for the winter.

Our first move will simply occur once my husband retires.  We'll be able to buy something without debt, after selling our house, that has property.  Property will allow us to have the animals and care for them through the seasons and live off the land.

What about a house?

Right now, while we're concerned about a house, we're not concerned about a house.  Seems like an oxymoron, huh?  Well, we're finding some properties with houses that need some work and/or finishing that sit on over 20 acres.  I know that to some 20 acres doesn't seem like much, but 20+ acres is 20+ acres that we don't have for the larger animals that we'd like to have for our homestead.

We're so very blessed to have our home on a little over an acre.  We have a nice sized garden that we will be fencing in for next year's crops.  We've worked for quite a few years to build up this garden space, but when the deer, bear, ground hogs, and rabbits come along to take bites out of our produce, it makes sense to build a fence.

The day they brazenly came in to the yard to graze on acorns, they leisurely sauntered back to the brush pile, then hit the garden (outside the picture to the left) with a vengeance.  

We were able to get a few cucumbers, 3 cayenne peppers, and enough volunteer cherry tomatoes to get 9 pints of stewed tomatoes.  This coming year we hope and pray to fill our pantry shelves, much like, if not more than, the picture below.

We also grow a lot of our own herbs for usage through the winter.  This year we dehydrated basil, oregano and thyme.  My sage and rosemary didn't over winter very well, so we didn't have it to dehydrate.  We plan to re-add those as well as other medicinal herbs to our herb gardens this coming Spring.

As I have considered homesteading, I've noticed that my husband is already doing the work it takes for this mindset outside, in the garage and fixing things on the house.  

A few weeks ago we went to get firewood, the chainsaw wouldn't start, and the truck got stuck in the mud.  We borrowed a friend's van to get home to get the wench and other materials to get the truck out of the mud, then came home.  We didn't have to call a tow truck.  Working together as a family was what needed to happen and it did.

Many times when things need to happen, even if it's snapping beans, we do it together to get it done.

What a blessing it is to work together to accomplish a common goal.

God Bless, 

In The Garden

This Spring has been warm, then very cold.  Cold enough to frost heavily.  We've waited in years past until Memorial Day weekend to put the garden in, but even then the threat of frost was greater.  As I type this, I'm sitting under a blanket with the temperatures having dropped to the 40's through the night.  Yes, in June!

Today we'll finish getting the garden in and the plants surrounded with newspaper to keep the weeds down and to keep the ground moist.  In a couple weeks we'll get some hay to further mulch the garden to keep the ground from drying out.

Why?

I'm glad you've asked!  Last year our well pump decided to give up the ghost, so we're watering our garden from city water, as needed until we find a viable solution.  I know the solution seems so very simple--just buy a new electric well pump.  It isn't as easy as that.  We're trying to rethink some of the electrical systems here in our house due to the way the original builders wired everything in the 70's when this house was built.  To say it wasn't up to code is an understatement.  So my husband is seeking counsel from others on how to deal with this.  We may put in an old fashioned hand pump on our well to water the garden with.  It would work, but we're researching and making sure that would be the best option at this point.  We're not in a hurry.  Sometimes these things take time.

So, in an effort to save water, we're putting down newspaper and eventually hay to preserve the water we put on the plants or the water God provides from the heavens.

Now, I'm off to get the garden finished.  I'll post pictures later.

From last year...

Until later, 

Beautifully Simply Blessed

There is something to be said by living a simple life, willingly. When we live plainly, not necessarily as the Amish, but simply, the focus of our lives is moved away from "keeping up with the Joneses" and refocused on what truly matters--family relationships & working together.



How do you, dear reader, live simply? That is truly up to each person individually and as a family. There are many ways to start, but I much prefer to begin anything from my knees. When we surrender ourselves to our Lord, acknowledging our ineptedness in such things, He is faithful to guide and direct our steps.



When I began seeking a simpler life, after seeking God, I stopped at a Christian book store on my way home from a Dr's appointment. As I browsed, I was drawn to this book--




I bought it, took it home and devoured it much like a ravenous wolf. I made it to the end where the reference section was and was still *hungry* and wanted more to devour. I went through all the catalogs and books, requested catalogs of all kinds and found another book. Imagine that! LOL I checked just the first book out of the library and found that I would be foolish to NOT buy all 3! So I mentioned it to my hubby who was extremely supportive. And my quest began... 

I loved this book which is the compilation of all the newsletters that had been written and individually sent out to their readers. I have found this book to be invaluable as a tool for more ideas on how to save more money just simply by doing it myself or making things myself. I have done quite a few things in the name of saving money, like making my own laundry soap; diluting liquid fabric softener in a spray bottle, spraying a wash cloth and putting that in the drier; making homemade cleaners out of vinegar, a couple drops of dish soap and essential oil; making knee patches for jeans; darning socks; and a whole host of other things ranging from the kitchen to the kids' clothes, to yard saling.

And, if you're wondering, my husband has stretched the usage of so many things in his arena much like what I've done. He has made a tractor last so much longer than it's normal life expectancy just simply by finding where he can buy individual parts for it and doing the work himself. Mrs.Dacyczyn would say in her books something like "use it up and wear it out." The only reason it should go to the trash is that we truly tried to fix everything and have exhausted our options. To us, this is good stewardship--to keep things out of the landfill until they are truly unusable any longer.

For me, January, February and March are planning months. These are the months when I get our taxes done, order our seeds for the year and take an inventory of everyone's clothing. I take their measurements just in case I'm out and about through the summer, find a deal at a yard sale without a tag, then I can measure to see if it will fit anyone in our home. During this planning time, I also take note of some of the things I might need in my home. I have some things I need and some things I'd like to get in my kitchen. For example, I need another basting brush. I'd like to see if I can find one at a yard sale this summer first before buying new. I have some other things I'd like to find as well, but this is the only thing that comes to mind currently. With a little planning and forethought, I can save us quite a bit of money [while the garden grows], getting things we'd need anyway for dirt cheap.

For those of you who are wondering, yes I do try to find clothes for my family at yard sales. I've found some things for each one of us. Last year, I hit the jackpot when arriving at a yard sale just 5 minutes before they closed on their last day. They gave us 3 bags of men's size large clothes for my oldest son for just $5. They were very good quality clothes too. One must be willing to spend a couple Saturdays and some Sunday afternoons yard saling to get these deals. My husband laughs at me. He knows me so very well, though. If I see a yard sale, he knows I'll want to stop, just to see if I can find something that will save us some money in the future.

I always pray about the Lord filling all of our needs. If it is His will to do that through yard saling, then all the better. If not, sometimes it happens, but that just means I need to wait.

Some things that I always look for at yard sales are as follows~

• Fabric--We live out in Rural Northwestern Pennsylvania. The nearest fabric store is 35-45 minutes away, depending on the weather. I don't have the ability to drop everything at a moment's notice and go to the fabric store. I just isn't doable. I look for fabric at yard sales that is usually cotton. Occationally I may find something that my daughter likes and would like to make in to something, so I get it. One time I found 5 yards of polar fleece fabric for $5 at a yard sale.
• Notions--All kinds! Especially buttons, thread, needles and plastic bobbins.
• Vintage tablecloths and napkins. I found some last year, but the tablecloths were too small for my table.
• Good quality items for gifts--the "just because" kind.
• Yarn, knitting needles and crochet hooks.
• Books based on what we're studying or will be studying. :)

Let's face it, when a spool of thread at a yard sale costs $.10 and at the local fabric store, it costs $2.79, I'd rather pay the $.10 and save the 2790% difference (yes, that surprises me too) to purchase on other needful things.

I would like to encourage you, dear reader, to do the math on a variety of things you purchase. Calculate the savings you would have if doing it this way. Challenge yourself this year to stretch the dollars you've been given by the Lord, because all things we've been given are from Him. :)

Blessings,

Regina

Cloudy Rainy/Snowy Winter Days

After getting all the morning chores done, the children get started on their school work.  Some mornings the clouds roll in and makes the barometric pressure fall.  The fall in the barometric pressure is a cue to both my husband and I that we need to prepare for the inevitable achiness that accompanies this type of weather.

Our mornings take a little bit different turn in cases like this.  We stay in bed a little longer, until the pain meds start to help.  The kids get moving on their chores, make coffee for us (what a wonderful blessing that is!) and get showers if they want to.  The morning starts out so much more "low key" due to our achiness.  Why?  Because we have to roll with the flow.  The expectations we have of ourselves need to be loosened and given grace when there are physical ailments.  These are days that we try our best to work through what we have to do.

Many times we end up doing an abbreviated day of school with just Bible Reading, Bible Copy Work, Language Arts, Math & Science.  This will take us up to noon, if not just a little after lunch.  We use the rest of the day for games, reading or other projects.  What a wonderful restful time to just relax and be together. 

Last Saturday we did something different in our Christmas Clean up than we've usually done in years past.  We brought all the Christmas bins downstairs and lined them up in the entry way with their lids off.  We emptied all the unwanted undesired things out of them before putting away the things we love.

We ended up with lots of extra room in each bin for clearance 75%+ off sales and Summer yard sale finds.  If I don't love something, I've decided, in 2012 I'll be purging it from my home.  Everything that comes through the door is something that is loved.  All unloved, doesn't fit, old, stained, chipped and just too much work to maintain will be given away or thrown away.  It is time to simplify!  For so many years clutter has taken up so much of my home.  Even though I've had it under control for a while, there were so many things in the attic that were just thrown up there after we moved in here.  Well, in a few years my hubby will be able to retire and I don't want to deal with having to lug the clutter along to where ever we move.  I don't love clutter, so it's time to get rid of it. 

Rainy, snowy winter days are wonderful to get things like decluttering done.  When we're stuck in the house with nothing better to do, decluttering is a good thing.  This is blessing my family as well as myself.  I feel so much lighter when I see that trash bag leave the house!  :)

Autumn, Oh Glorious Autumn!

Things have been quite busy here lately finishing up summer projects, decorating for Autumn and beginning to look toward Christmas plans. 

Today was lovely, gorgeous in fact.  We were invited to our friends' house for a picnic/cookout and what a wonderful time we had.  Our friends are friend my husband has worked with for 6 years and such wonderful people.  We don't often get the opportunity to visit with people my husband works with, but when we get an invitation we try very hard to go. 

Mr. G & JL playing lawn darts.

Of course, as with every party or gathering when there is a fire, you can find my hubby sitting beside it.  He gets such refreshing peacefulness just enjoying a fire.  Who can argue with that?

Many of our days are spent working together, side-by-side or at least in the same room on projects or cleaning while around the fire, or while one is tending the fire the rest of us are getting chores done quickly so we can gather around the fire. 

Time is quickly passing for us to complete our chores for the Fall and get our wood done so we can "batten down the hatches" in preparation for Winter.  My goal is to have everything inside done by October 15th.  I have my various lists.  I need my hubby to help me take care of a few things that only he can do to his specifications, but other than that, I'll do the rest. 

On this final day spent before my next birthday, it is all good.  The good and the not so good.  The Lord is using all things to mould me and grow me.  I praise Him for that.  What lovely thoughts to dwell on!  I know that this evening I was asked, "Weren't your 30's just wonderful?"  I thought for a minute and said, "I had a very turbulent time in my 30's.  I like my 40's much better."  Yes, it is true.  I had just learned about Biblical Submission (you know...the kind that doesn't equate to "doormat" status), and worked and worked and worked and...well, you get the picture...to desperately try to regain lost time.  We'd already been married 10 years when I hit 30, and you know you the story well, I'm sure~"If only I knew this stuff when I was first married we wouldn't have had so much trouble from the beginning!"  I still feel so very convinced that every young lady should learn Biblical Submission before being married because it would make things so much easier than the beginning of my own marriage.  The power struggles, the financial struggles, the words that were not very loving nor kind...

But, looking back I see in the Lord's wonderful and magnificent grace, I had to go through all those things to simply get to this side and realize that He has something more, something beautiful in store for me. 

What does that look like?  I'll save that for another day.

Our Simple Life Lately

God graciously blessed us with these tomatoes.  This was our first batch that made us 5 quarts of spaghetti sauce.

This is our herb garden.  DA trimmed all the basil and oregano for the above mentioned sauce.

HJ helped do her part too.  JL stood behind the camera!  LOL

A young man had a 16th birthday.  He's 16 years and 3 1/2 hours old here at 7:00AM.

Turned around and took a picture of a sleepy 12 year old.  LOL

...and a pretty 13 3/4 year old.  ;)

And here he is, fully awake after his shower.  Happy Birthday bud!

One of my favorite mornings last week.  My hubby had a "stay-cation" last week.  This picture was an impromptu morning where all of us were gathered in the living room over coffee, tea or decafinated Swiss Mocha.

The other side of the room.  What a blessing it was to sit and chat together at the beginning of the day!

Last but not least, here is JL checking his spelling words with Biscuit tucked under his arm. 



This concludes the tour of our very simple, peaceful life.

Have a great day!

Blessings,

Regina