Eating Better for Less

I'm a numbers kind of person. I love them. When I'm doing something that keeps my body busy, but not my mind, I often run numbers through my head. I figure out how much it costs in gas to go to the grocery store, how many gallons of oil give as much heat as a cord of wood (still working on that one), I do my budget in my head, then figure out how much I spend annually on certain things (a fantastic eye-opening exercise by the way). 

A huge amount of my figurin' time is spent on budget related items. I'm always trying to figure out how much I'm spending and how to spend less and the largest flexible area of our budget is for food.  So when I came across this post, I was definitely interested. The thought that I could spend less money for nourishing food is huge. The thought of spending less money for nourishing food that I could spend less time cooking? Oh, I can't even put it into words! Ok, so maybe my family won't go for eating kale, oats and milk every day, but it is definitely food for thought. (Sorry, had to do it.)

Birthday Boy!

I absolutely cannot believe it's been 11 years. Eleven years ago today, my third child was born.

My little Zach. So much of our lives changed when he was born. Having him was our first step away from the cultural "norm". We had finally realized that we didn't want to be past childbearing age and wish we'd had more children. (Thank you Pat Sarver, wherever you are, for teaching me this.) Zach was our first homebirth. (I got into an argument with my obstetrician when I was 32 weeks pregnant and we found a midwife who agreed to attend our birth.) After Zach's birth I finally left the corporate world behind and became a stay at home mom. We began homeschooling.

And now here we are, 11 years later. The time flew by so swiftly and I know that no matter how hard I try to slow it down, the next 11 years will go even faster. I don't know exactly when he stopped being a little boy. He still asks me to come tuck him in at night though. I'll enjoy that for as long as I can.

Happy Birthday Zachy Bear!

Adding on

We welcomed two new additions to our home this week. These little beauties are sisters and are a Nubian/Toggenburg mix.  Nubian goats are the ones with the adorable long floppy ears. Toggenburg goats have more erect ears. Since these are a mix, their ears are really long, but they stick almost straight out. Kind of like an airplane's wings.

 

They'll grow into full sized goats, and hopefully next year they'll give us baby goats and lots of milk. We don't have names for them yet. For now they're sleeping in a pen in the garage (for safety), but during the day we let them out into a fenced in area put up just for them. They don't like to be left outside alone though, so my middles have been spending lots of time out there with them. 

Summer List

I'm already a week and a half into summer, and I feel like it's going way too fast. So much to do, so little time.  So I'm going to try to make a list of things to do this summer and check them off as I go. Maybe it will make me feel like I'm accomplishing more.

• Paint Josh's bedroom.
• Read A Charlotte Mason Companion
• Reread Teaching the Trivium
• Stain the front porch
• Clean out the basement
• Make skirts for Maddie
• Organize my recipes
• Paint the upstairs bathroom
• Finish painting the hallway and guest room
• Go to the beach with the kids
• Learn how to use my camera better
• Make a quilt for Maddie
• Learn how to make yogurt and cheese
• Learn how to identify the plants in my yard
• Learn how to play the violin (this has been on my list for 7 years now)
• Learn how to play the piano
• Learn how to draft a pattern
• Sew aprons for Maddie and I
• Get a laptop for the kids for schoolwork

As of right now my list is nowhere near complete yet, but it's late and that's all I can remember. The good news is that the first one is done. Yay me!  I'll try to keep it up to date with what I get done and any new additions to the list.  Looks like it will be a very busy summer!

Evenings

IMG_2202, originally uploaded by Honoring Home.

Homemade pizza.

Tossed salad.

A glass of red wine.

The scent of lilacs.

A cool breeze coming in the window.

Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong in the background.

Sense and Sensibility Patterns

One of my very most favorite sewing sites online has a brand new completely updated website.



To celebrate the new look, Sense and Sensibility Patterns is having a HUGE sale! The sale was supposed to end today, but I received a notice that it's been extended until Monday! So head over and check it out. All patterns are 15% off!

Extreme Makeover Garden Chair Edition

We inherited these chairs from the previous owners of our home. They are among the many things they graciously left behind for us when they moved out and we moved in. They sit under a pine tree in our back yard, next to the bird feeder, which the previous owners also graciously left.


I love these chairs. I enjoyed sitting in them last year, after walking up from the garden, very pregnant with Sophie, and carrying Emma on my back. (I'm sure that was a site to see.) These chairs welcomed me. Emma and I sat and watched birds coming to the feeder. We rocked. We nursed. She slept. Did I mention that I love these chairs? They looked a bit neglected though. So I sanded them.

Found out one of them used to be red. You can see it right next to the rust.

The other one used to be sort of aqua blue.



Now, they are all blue and white. The picture makes them look like they're different colors, but they are both the same blue, like the one on the right, with white arms. And the table is blue with a white top. It's what color they wanted to be. They told me so. Now they match the forget-me-nots. You should come sit in them with me. I'll make the tea.

Busy Day

Today was a full day!

• We did school.
• I cut the front grass (most of it, till I ran out of gas in the mower).
• Josh cut the back grass.
• I baked 3 loaves of bread.

• We did hammered flower impressions on fabric.

• I made a wire ribbon flower, like this one, only mine is turquoise blue.

• I made dinner with Maddie's help.
• Maddie brought me flowers.

But most of all, I enjoyed my children. It was a good day! How was your day?

Our Weekend Gift

This past weekend's weather was gorgeous. We went to a nearby favorite park to enjoy a bit of God's creation and we celebrated Emma's 2nd Birthday (technically a couple of days late, but she didn't mind).Swinging on favorite swings.

Playing in the VERY COLD water.

Sophie enjoyed her first ride in a swing.

Loving the sand and the water, which she called "Weee".

Skipping stones.

I've found that there are days where my To Do list can be a mile long, but the best thing for us all is to scrap the list and go have fun. Our days of enjoying each others company are too few and far between, so when God gives us a gift - beautiful weather and everyone home at the same time - we should unwrap it with joy and not stick it aside for another day. What a beautiful gift that day was!

Theological Thinking

Yesterday's discussion at home was interesting. Here's the question: Can you back up all your decisions with scripture? The topic came up because the author of a blog I read posted the statement that "I think it is wrong for Christians in America to have their children in government controlled schools". I'll let you read the most recent post, the original posts, and the comments on your own. There were several things I read that prompted the discussion we had. It was even more interesting because my oldest son told us of a big decision made by someone we know. This person said she "felt called" to do something. So on top of the scripture-backing-up-your-decisions-discussion, we had the you're-not-supposed-to-make-decisions-based-on-feelings-so-how-can-you-tell-if-you're-called discussion. Whoa! Deep stuff! Needless to say, it was a very late night. But a good night.

So I'm curious. What do you think? Can you (or should you be able to) back up all your decisions with scripture? How do you know when God has called you to do something?

We Are Home Makers

Being a Home Maker is by far the hardest job I've ever had. Even when I was working 16 hour days, living on double cappuccino's with a shot of vanilla because I couldn't get sleep, my job was easier than it is now. But my "job" now is absolutely, by far, the most fulfilling one I've ever had. What I do makes a difference in the world. I make a difference in the lives of my husband and my children. I forget that sometimes. Kelly, from Generation Cedar wrote something that reminded me. I think I'll print it out and hang it on a wall so I can see it often and be reminded of who I am, what I do, and Who I serve.

We are a culture of real women, with real families and problems, but also a real understanding of the importance of our work in and among our homes and communities. We see a desperate need to return to a more simplistic way of living–for the health and good of all.
We are sharp; we are thinking women; we read; we have voracious appetites for learning, and for teaching our children those things.
We value education, and also sitting in the quiet of a day.
We believe that “the greatest among you is the servant of all”.
We utilize our computers to assist us with diagnosing an illness, and when we’re done, we hang our laundry on the clothesline to save money.
We learn to cook from scratch because it’s cheaper, healthier and wiser.
We make homemade laundry detergent (sometimes ).
We are on a never-ending quest to save money because “a dollar saved is more than a dollar earned”, and our husbands treasure that quality in us.
We believe motherhood is a vocation that comes with responsibilities, and we do what is necessary to fulfill them.
We delight in serving our husbands a cold glass of tea; not because he demands it or because we are subservient, but because we love him and cherish the smallest opportunity to communicate it. After all, he spends all day “speaking love to us” working hard, making sure the oil is changed, unstopping the clogged pipes, and all sorts of other ways. We don’t feel we’re in competition, but rather, we are “heirs together in the grace of life”.
We understand the very real fact that humans need serenity, and we make it one of our jobs to create that for as many as we can around us.
We try to look around us and see if we can meet the practical needs of others.
We think generationally….beyond today…into our great-grand-children’s lives. We journal about things we want our granddaughters to remember.
We teach our girls about strength and dignity, and our boys about honor and protection. We also believe in equality, and in a beautiful array of differences.
We care deeply about politics and what happens to our world; and that is why we are home MAKERS.

I am proud to be one of them. Read the rest here.

My new favorite thing

Why, oh why did I wait for so long!!?? I finally bought myself a Moby wrap. My midwife told me to, but I didn't listen to her right away. I have 3 other slings, and I used those. (One of which I used to carry 3 other children. Yes, I've had it for a while.) Well, after trying to carry Sophie in one last week, and after my shoulders ached from doing so, I finally broke down and picked one up. I just put it on. Let me just say that this is the most amazingly comfortable baby carrier I've ever used. Sophie loves it. I love it. And it's cute!! I have her in the Hug hold right now. Typing with BOTH hands because I don't need to support her with one even though she's in the carrier. I'll try one of the other positions later and see how she and I like it. I might even try it with Emma. Oh yes, this will definitely be the one I recommend to EVERYONE.

Sorry, no pictures. My camera has decided to completely quit working. Good thing I have a birthday coming up. =)

He said what?

I know my husband. One of the things I know about him is that he doesn't say much. I'll ramble on about almost anything, talk thoughts out as they pop into my head, express my oh-so-many opinions at any time. Not my husband. He talks, but he's more careful about what he says. So I know when he says something that seems to be "out of the blue", it isn't just a thought that just popped into his head. He's been thinking about it. So the other day when he said something, I knew I needed to pay attention. What did he say? He said, "Maybe we should look for land closer to town." He said it two days in a row. I guess that means he's really thinking about it.

Just for kicks and giggles, I thought I'd figure out how much it would cost or save us in gas - closer to work and church, but farther from where Josh goes to school. Enter google maps. Guess what! It is the exact same distance to school as it is from here (think of a triangle). But it's a LOT closer to work and church. Just in gas alone we'd be saving about $300 a month. And that doesn't include oil changes, tires, and other wear and tear on the cars. Of course, property taxes are much higher in that part of our state than in this part of our state, so our savings will probably go to a higher tax bill. But my husband would get about an hour a day back.

We don't feel like God is calling us to move right now. Which is good, because I LOVE our land and our home. But we do think that God is telling us to get things in order, because you never know. So I have some unfinished projects to take care of around here. Just in case I didn't hear God correctly, I looked online at the current listings. There really isn't anything for us right now. And we're not putting our house on the market. We're just exploring options.

You know, it's almost funny. Every time I've felt settled and content, God gives us big changes. Maybe I should try to feel discontented for a while. Then we can stay put. Maybe?

My Schedule Sets Me Free

I fought against having a schedule for years. I'm too spontaneous. I don't want to be tied down. I want freedom. Well, not having a schedule really didn't work very well. I always felt like I was behind. I had to get everything done today. Right now. All of it. So this year, I made schedules for us. A schoolwork schedule, a chores for the kids schedule, an errands schedule (this one really isn't working), and a housework schedule. You know what I've found? More things are getting done, my house is getting cleaned on a regular basis, life is flowing more smoothly. And the unexpected find? I'm free! Once we finish what's on the schedule, we're done for the day! We can play without guilt. I have renewed focus because I know what has to be done today, and what can wait until tomorrow. I'm free to change the schedule or ignore the schedule if I really want to, but it works pretty well, so I try to stick to it. I need to adjust the schoolwork schedule a bit more, but even that helps. When we are interrupted we can pretty easily get back to where we left off. I've found new spontaneity in my discipline. Who would've thought?

Do you use a schedule or are you still trying to convince yourself that you're a free spirit and shouldn't be tied down?

Happy March!

Today is the first day of March. March - you know - in like a lion, out like a lamb? THAT March. I can actually feel my fingers itch to start raking up the leaves that were missed last fall. I'm longing for the smell of fresh mulch to put on my flower beds. I'm dreaming of my children playing outside without carrying in wet slushiness on their boots and gloves and snowpants. I actually have crocuses that are beginning to peek their little green leaves out testing the weather to see if they should continue growing or duck back under cover for another week or two. Spring is in the air. I can smell it. Now I can even see it - even if it's just the pretty picture on my calendar and my yard is still covered with snow, I know it's coming. The crocuses told me so.