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Saturday, July 25, 2015

Being Still, Pony Rides, Tomatoes, Squash and More

WORDS TO LIVE BY

Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path
Psalm 119:105


TODAY'S QUOTE

Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you. ~ Maori Proverb

IN THE KITCHEN


Thursday I cooked a 10 lb bag of chicken leg quarters and used the broth and meat to make Vegetable Chicken Soup for my family and my sister's family for dinner. Yesterday I recooked the scraps from the chicken pieces and today I canned that broth. I canned nine pints plus have a quart in the refrigerator to use in chicken rice casserole tomorrow.

YARD AND GARDEN


I was happy to finally find some little squash in the garden this evening. There are also lots of little green tomatoes. I'm hoping for lots of tomato sandwiches and fried squash.


OUT AND ABOUT


What I thought was going to be a quick trip to the feed store this morning turned out to be an hour of fun for Michael and Talis. When we got there we discovered they were having an anniversary celebration today and there were pony rides for the kids and free food. 







This afternoon we ran a few errands. We visited the pet store, went to Goodwill, stopped at McDonald's for small ice cream cones and made a quick trip to the grocery store.




AND MORE

Painting and drawing - Madalynn said she was a zombie.



ON MY MIND


So many things have been happening lately that some days it feels like my mind is just spinning. Some of these things are good, some not so good. Most of these things have made me want to take action! I've wanted to move forward when the way wasn't clear - sometimes because I was was excited and sometimes because I was angry. And yet several verses keep coming to my mind and they tell me to be still! I don't always want to be still, it really doesn't come natural to me but there it is. 

When I'm hurt and want to lash back!

When I'm falsely accused and want to defend myself!

When my motives are questioned and I want to clarify!

When I'm pushed away and shut out because of imaginations run amuck!

When light begins to shine and I want to run down a path not yet totally illuminated!

When the road looks clear but there is not yet a green light! 

When I see what look to me like wonderful opportunities but those who would walk with me are not yet ready!

Over and over I'm reminded to be still. 


The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still
Exodus 14:14

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
Psalm 37:7


Be still, and know that I am God
Psalm 46:10

So instead of running wildly into a way that I think would be best I'm learning to simply do what is in front of me to do at this moment while being still in my spirit and letting Him work in ways beyond my imagination. And it's happening. Beautiful things are happening. Things that at one time looked impossible. And I know that He's also working in the situations where I don't see anything happening just yet. 


“Peace, be still!” 
Mark 4:39

DAILY DEALS






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Thursday, July 23, 2015

Miss Piggy's Shower and More

WORDS TO LIVE BY


Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”


TODAY'S QUOTE

It is well to remember that the entire population of the universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others. ~ Andrew J. Holmes


ANIMAL UPDATES


Miss Piggy loves her daily shower.


Austin and Michael worked together to clean out and put fresh hay in the rabbit colony.



Two of our kittens went to a new home today. The other four are staying (I'm pretty sure I was temporarily insane when I agreed to that!)



OUT AND ABOUT

Amanda went to my sister's for a couple hours this morning to help her out and then Austin, Amanda and Michael were all three there for the evening. I was home most of the day but this evening the kids and I did pick up my friend's son and take him to the fire department where he's training too be a fire fighter. His mom was at work so I was glad to give him a ride.

READING AROUND THE WEB


Roasted Carrots at To Simply Inspire

Squash Butter at Radical Femininity

DAILY DEALS





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Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Baby Bunnies, Kale and More

WORDS TO LIVE BY


May your unfailing love be my comfort,
    according to your promise to your servant.
Psalm 119:76

TODAY'S QUOTE

Everybody needs a hug. It changes your metabolism. ~ Leo Buscaglio


WORKING, LEARNING, AND PLAYING 

My plan for this summer was to keep up with at least a little school work each day but somehow we've found ourselves just really enjoying the break from workbooks and worksheets. I'm sure we still will do some some days but mornings playing outside, lazy afternoons watching a movie and summer evening fun seems to be the main theme this summer. 



YARD AND GARDEN

Austin and I picked another three buckets of kale today. So I'll be putting more in the freezer tomorrow. I was hoping to start cleaning it today but didn't get to it so I'm just trying to keep it cool until tomorrow. While we were in the garden this little fellow showed up to say Hi!


ANIMAL UPDATES

When Austin went to take the rabbits some greens he found this little bunny hopping around the rabbit colony. We didn't even know we had baby bunnies. He found the nest and there are four white and two brown babies. 



OUT AND ABOUT

This afternoon Michael and I were at my sister's for several hours so she could get some things done. Michael enjoyed playing with the other kids and I just enjoyed getting out for a few hours. 


READING AROUND THE WEB


Fairy Garden in a Guitar Case at Penny's Vintage Home

Busy Bird Bath House at Gentle Joy Photography

The Call of the Cookie at Gentle Joy Homemaker

Neapolitan Swirl Refrigerator Cookies at God's Growing Garden

 Why You Need To Plan Your Day at How to Get Organized at Home

 Cantaloupe Bread Recipe at Faith Filled Food for Moms

DAILY DEALS




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Monday, July 20, 2015

Catching Up

WORDS TO LIVE BY

The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forever more.
Psalm 121:8


TODAY'S QUOTE


People see God every day, they just don't recognize Him. ~ Pearl Bailey


YARD AND GARDEN

The last week or so has been crazy busy and this is part of the reason why. I canned 49 quarts of green beans last week. The kids helped pick and clean and put them in jars.



We also pulled and cleaned another bucket of turnips and stored them in the basement. 


And today Austin and I cut three buckets full of kale before I started getting sick from the heat and had to go in. I got one bucket of it washed and blanched and put in the freezer and plan to do the other two buckets full tomorow.




WORKING, LEARNING, AND PLAYING TOGETHER



OUT AND ABOUT

We've been out and about quite a bit this past week. Doug worked several evenings on moving some things for my dad and one of those evenings the whole family helped. 

Friday evening we had a birthday party for my cousin and then went up on the mountain. 

Saturday we went to the Antique Mall and then took the kids for ice cream. 


Sunday after church and a late lunch we went to McCormick's Farm for the afternoon/evening. It was so beautiful and peaceful there and the kids loved playing.



DAILY DEALS






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Monday, July 13, 2015

An Evening in the Mountains, Green Beans and Kittens

WORDS TO LIVE BY

Be still and rest in the Lord.
Wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him. 
Psalm 37:7 


TODAY'S QUOTE

Fear has a large shadow, but he himself is small. ~ Ruth Gendler


ANIMAL UPDATES

All six kittens are now living together in the woodpile and both mamma cats take care of them all. The kittens are getting playful now and the kids love playing with them. Five of the kittens have ribbons because they look almost identical and Amanda wanted to be able to tell them apart. She keeps check on them to make sure they aren't getting too tight as they grow.



YARD AND GARDEN

I picked a four gallon bucket full of green beans today and that is only a small part of what's in the garden. I cleaned and snapped them this evening and will process them tomorrow as well as pick more. 


This tree in our back yard is LOADED with little apples this year. Last year there were hardly any. 




OUT AND ABOUT

Yesterday after church, lunch, and naps for the little ones, we went up on the mountain with my sister and her kids and my cousin. Doug and Austin grilled hotdogs and we also had chips, several kinds of fruit, cookies and drinks. It was such a fun evening. 








This evening in the mountains was such a refreshing way to end the weekend and head into a new week.

READING AROUND THE WEB

She Put On a Lot of Weight at Running Through Shades of Blue


DAILY DEALS






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Saturday, July 11, 2015

Canning Chicken Stock, Smart Cat and More

WORDS TO LIVE BY


Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 
Hebrews 4:16

TODAY'S QUOTE

Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He's going to be up all night anyway. ~ Mary C. Crowley


ANIMAL UPDATES

Look at Amanda's smart cat (named Puppy) helping me make the weekly menu and grocery list. I had to say to his suggestions of fried mouse and roast rat though. I just don't think the people in this house would enjoy that.


YARD AND GARDEN

The garden is still doing wonderful. However the rain is keeping us from getting into it and doing what we need to do. The weeds are getting away from us and the beans need to be picked. I did some greens and Austin helped me with turnips and with pulling some of the weeds. 


WORKING, LEARNING, AND PLAYING TOGETHER

This swingset is swingless at the moment so the kids use it as monkey bars instead. Michael sometimes struggles to keep up with the others but he is determined to learn and keeps trying. He's even had blisters on his hands from trying so hard and has made a lot of progress. 




IN THE KITCHEN

I canned one quart and five pints of chicken stock this evening. I made this from the scraps of some chicken leg quarters I had cooked and taken the meat off of for a casserole. I use this to make soups, stews, gravy and homemade cream of chicken soup. 


OUT AND ABOUT

Our errand day run was short today. The kids didn't have very many stops they wanted to make and Michael found what he wanted at Goodwill pretty quickly. It was nice for a change.  



DAILY DEALS






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