Monday, June 29, 2015

Vain Imaginations, Deer Tracks and More - The Walnut Acre Daily - Monday June 29, 2015

WORDS TO LIVE BY


But Godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Timothy 6:6

TODAY'S QUOTE

There must be more to life than having everything. ~ Maurice Sendak



YARD AND GARDEN

Look what I found when I went out to work in the garden this morning! Deer tracks. I'm not surprised, we've seen deer around numerous times, but it was kind of cool to find the tracks. It would have been much less cool if they had eaten a lot of the garden but I really didn't see any sign of that.


As usual Austin worked with me in the garden. I appreciate his help and sometimes we even have interesting conversations while we're working together. 



WORKING, LEARNING, AND PLAYING TOGETHER

It looks like we're going to have a nice break from the heat this week. A couple of the kids even pulled out their jackets this morning.

They started out with the boys playing a little basketball and the girls cheering them on.
There was work going on in front of our house again today and they watched some of that too. 
After lunch we worked in workbooks, played a game and read stories.


Here are a few pictures from yesterday. We were at my dad's for lunch and the afternoon. 



The weather was really nice yesterday so after the little ones woke up from their naps we went for a walk. 





OUT AND ABOUT


READING AROUND THE WEB

How to See a Bad Day as Holy to the Lord at Joy In My Kitchen


ON MY MIND

Imagination. That's what is on my mind today. Imagination can be a wonderful tool. We often encourage children to use their imaginations when they are playing, or doing artwork, or writing a story. This world would be a sad and boring place without creative imaginations. 


Used wrongly, however, imagination can take one down some dark roads.  Recently I have watched, and been in the middle of, a situation where someone's imagination has led to fear which has led to some major depression and wild accusations and statements that were so far out and hurtful that it was hard to know how to respond.

Lots of prayer, thought and Bible reading have led me to a few things in this situation. One is to stand firm. I wrote some about that here. Another is to realize that Satan wants to destroy relationships and if he has to use vain imaginations to do so, he will. But I don't have to bow to that. Instead I can take captive every thought of how much this hurts me and others, of anger and of bitterness and instead live in the freedom of knowing Who I belong to and allowing His love to flow through me. Perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18) and when the fear is gone the hold of so many other negative emotions is also broken. And finally, simply pray. Prayer not only brings God's power to bear on the situation but keeps me in fellowship with the One who comforts and strenghthens me no matter what the situation.


DAILY DEALS






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Friday, June 26, 2015

Playing at the Park and More - The Walnut Acre Daily Thursday and Friay June 25 & 26, 2015

WORDS TO LIVE BY

Let your conversation be always full of grace,  seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Colossians 4:6

TODAY'S QUOTE

The difference between a smart man and a wise man is that a smart man knows what to say, a wise man knows whether or not to say it.  ~ Frank M. Garafola


ANIMAL UPDATES

Socializing the kittens


YARD AND GARDEN

The onions and potatoes are coming up pretty good now. 

Austin and I worked in the garden again this yesterday  - Austin was pulling weeds and I was cutting greens and also pulling weeds as I went. I was able to put another gallon bag of mixed greens in the freezer. 



WORKING, LEARNING, AND PLAYING TOGETHER

The boys watched this work from the front porch for about an hour and a half yesterday afternoon. The girls came out for about five minutes and then went back inside. 


 The water line for our new neighbors isn't finished yet and they didn't work on it today because of the rain so I guess they'll be back next week.

 This evening Austin and Doug worked on a lawnmower for awhile. 


OUT AND ABOUT


I had told the kids we would go to tjev park today and they've been looking forward to it. When I got up this morning  and saw how rainy it was I was afraid they were going to be disappointed. We decided to head out and see how things worked out.

First we ate a picnic lunch.
When we finished lunch it had stopped raining so went on to the playground.
After playing awhile we took a walk around the fish pond before heading home. 



 


DAILY DEALS






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Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Sauteed Radishes and More - The Walnut Acre Daily Wednesday June 24, 2015

WORDS TO LIVE BY

But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.

TODAY'S QUOTE

There is much in our world to make us afraid. There is much more in our faith to make us unafraid. ~ Frederick W. Cropp

YARD AND GARDEN

Austin helped me pull almost all the radishes this morning. Many of them had gotten really big but I decided to keep them anyway. Here is our haul this morning. There are three kinds of radishes here - Black Spanish Radishes, Cherry Belle Radishes and Crimson Giant Radishes plus a few turnips that somehow ended up in the radish row. 



Michael helped me wash all those radishes. 



The vine garden - watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini and pumpkins is coming up really well. 



IN THE KITCHEN

I was looking around online for ideas of how to use the larger radishes and found several recipes for sauteed radishes. So I decided to give it a try. I sliced some of the bigger radishes as well as a couple small turnips. I also added a chopped onion. I seasoned them with salt, pepper, garlic powder and thyme. Then I sauteed them in butter until the juices had evaporated and the slices were starting to brown. Delicious! 

This picture is partway through the cooking process. 

OUT AND ABOUT

Amanda went this morning to help a friend do some cleaning and organizing. Then this afternoon both Austin and Amanda went over to the church with some of the other youth and the youth leader to work on cleaning and redecorating the youth room. 


I had choir practice this evening and Michael went with me. On the way home we stopped at a friends house to check on their kitten. We're checking in on it twice a day while they are on vacation. 


DAILY DEALS






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Cats and Kittens, Mixed Greens, and Playing Together - The Walnut Acre Daily Tuesday June 23, 2015

WORDS TO LIVE BY

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and His understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
But those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
They will run and not grow weary,
They will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31



TODAY'S QUOTE

Nothing reduces the odds against you like ignoring them. ~ Robert Brault


ANIMAL UPDATES

Here are our two cats that have kittens. Bear has five kittens and is a very good mommy cat. Monkey has one kitten and most of the time seems to have no idea what to do with the poor thing. The first week she drug it all over the place, even dropping it at the feet of other cats as if trying to get them to do something with it. She finally settled in a place to keep it. She takes care of it bit minimally. Occasionally Amanda puts it in with Bear's kittens for a little so it will get a good bath. Bear always seems horrified at how badly it needs a bath and quickly cleans it up.


YARD AND GARDEN


Austin and I did more weeding I'm the garden this morning and I also cut some of the collards and Swiss Chard and the few Lamb's Quarters that were growing in the rows I was working on. It seems like I had cut a lot of greens but by the time I cleaned and blanched them there was only enough for a gallon bag of mixed greens to put in the freezer. 


WORKING, LEARNING, AND PLAYING TOGETHER

The kids had a busy day today. They started their day with Legos.



After breakfast we were outside for the morning.



After lunch we worked in our workbooks, played a game and read some stories before quiet time. 



Cayson brought water guns for everyone so after quiet time they headed out for some water fun. 




OUT AND ABOUT

I had to make a run to the grocery store this evening for laundry detergent and milk and Amanda needed some medicine for the fish so went to the pet store to get that. 


READING AROUND THE WEB

12 Alternate Sources of Protein at Life, Love, and Thyme

Remaining Anonymous at Ready to be Offered

As God's People at Walnut Acre


DAILY DEALS







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Monday, June 22, 2015

A Day of Work and Play - The Walnut Acre Daily

WORDS TO LIVE BY

The Lord will keep you from all harm - He will watch over your life; The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now so forevermore. 
Psalm 121:7-8

TODAY'S QUOTE

Worry is a misuse of imagination. ~ Dan Zadra

WORKING, LEARNING, AND PLAYING TOGETHER


Today has been a good day here at home. The kids have had a lot of fun. Austin took the kids for a ride this morning when he took fresh hay to the rabbits. 



 It was hot today so they were happy when I set up the sprinkler in the back yard and let them play in the water.




 Then this evening we walked back to the creek and let Madalynn and Michael play in the water. 


But it hasn't been all fun and games. We've gotten a lot of work done too. Between Austin, Amanda and I the rabbit colony was cleaned, we pulled weeds in the garden, the animals were taken care of, lots of laundry and dishes were done, messy shelves got organized, meals were served, floors were mopped and vacuumed, both bathrooms were cleaned and various other jobs got done. After work this evening Doug took an old refrigerator to the dump and then worked in the garage for awhile. It's always amazing to me how much can be gotten done when we all work hard together. 


READING AROUND THE WEB

Steady Joy Amidst Chaos at The Engaged Home


7 Advantages of Homeschooling at BJ's Homeschool Encouragement and Resources

Summer Squash and Onion Saute at Everyday Made Fresh

Unashamed at Walnut Acre

 Learning From Pain and Exhaustion at Dr. Michelle Bengtson

 When Your Gobsmacked by Forgiveness at Counting My Blessings

ON MY MIND


DAILY DEALS






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Sunday, June 21, 2015

End of Vacation Bible School Celebration - The Walnut Acre Daily Sunday June 21, 2015

WORDS TO LIVE BY

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1

TODAY'S QUOTE

If God had wanted to be a big secret, He would not have created babbling brooks and whispering pines. ~ Robert Brault


END OF VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL CELEBRATION


The Sunday after our week of VBS we usually have a big celebration with the children, teachers, families and the church. It's a time of worship, laughter, games and more followed by a big picnic and a lot more fun.

Here are some of the pictures I took today in the midst of all the activity.


Who can keep all three balloons in the air the longest. Best of three wins!



High point winners in the class I helped teach. Points were earned for attendance, bringing a Bible, bringing a friend, learning the memory verse, and more.



Performance by a Christian magician. I love how incorporates lessons into his "magic" tricks. 






And then after eating our picnic lunch then outdoor fun begin. The water slide was a BIG favorite.




And the homemade ice cream was wonderful too!


Just because.


Pony rides


And even a couple chickens!


It was a wonderful way to wrap up a wonderful week.


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