Garden Update and Peeking in the Corners

We've had some nice rains the last few days for which I (and the garden) have been very grateful. It also means that I still haven't transplanted all the little plants but that's okay. The morning glories, marigolds and basil are coming along well.

And so are the sunflowers, gourds, cucumbers, and the little bit of corn I haven't trasnsplanted yet.

The corn we put out in the new garden spot last week adjusted well to the trasnplant.

And the rest of the garden is looking good too. No produce yet but it's coming.

When I went out to take pictures of the garden this morning I also walked around and took some pictures of the "uncultivated" areas along the edges of our property. Sometimes I find these areas more fascinating that what we have planted and pruned and cultivated ourselves.

Here are some of the things I found.

I found this spot that looks like something may have been resting here sometime recently. Maybe a deer, since we saw one walking across our yard several weeks ago. I'm just hoping whatever it was stays out of the garden.

It's amazing what can be found in little overlooked corners.

~ Linking Here ~

TUESDAY – Tuesday Garden Party,WEDNESDAY Frugal Gardening 101, Outdoor Wednesday,  SATURDAY – Saturdays on the Farm

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Where I Can Be Me and You Can Be You

image credit

As I begin a new day I find myself thinking of two quotes I read last night. They are both from the book Cure for the Common Life by Max Lucado.

And here they are.

1. God never called you to be anyone other than you.

2. If you aren't you we don't get you. The world misses out.

3. You play no small part, because there is no small part to be played.

Wow!

This is so freeing to me. I am not the way I am by accident. I am created to be me and me alone. Not who or what someone else wants me to be. Not even who I think I should be compared to those around me. I am simply meant to be uniquely me. In fact, it is important that I embrace the person that God has made to be because this is where I am most effective for Him and most fulfilled as a person.

And this allows me to go into my day with a freedom and joy that cannot be found when I am trying to be a person I'm not meant to be.

~ Linking Here ~
Titus 2sdays
Simply Homemaking
The Wednesday Window
Women Living Well
A Holy Experience

10 Boredom Busters for Kids

Now that summer vacation is here and the initial excitement has worn off for many here are some fun boredom busters.

1. U is for Umbrella

2. Mixing Colours with Vinegar and Baking Soda

3. Twirling Paper Lady Bugs

4. Bite Into Summer Vacation

5. Honeycomb Art & Fingerprint Bees

6. Make a Fairy Garden

7. Make a Dinosaur World

8. Creating Insect Habitats

9. Grasshopper Paper Tube Kid's Craft

10. Ant Art Projects

~ Linking Here ~

Bacon Cheese Pie

I love breakfast and brunch casseroles and enjoy trying new ones. Here is one I made Saturday morning and I think it was my favorite one yet.

12 slices bacon

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

2 cups milk

4 eggs

1 cup baking mix

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease pie plate. Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.

Sprinkle bacon and cheese in pie plate.

In medium bowl mix milk, eggs, baking mix and pepper until well blended. Pour into pie plate.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted into center comes out clean.

~ Linking Here ~

SUNDAY – Strut Your Stuff, Sharing Time, Creative Bloggers Party and Hop, MONDAY - Unwasted Homemaking Linky, Sharing Monday, Making a Home,TUESDAY - Titus 2sdays, Domestically Divine, One Project at a Time, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Tuesdays at the Table, Simply Homemaking, WEDNESDAY - Homemaking Link-Up, Living Well Wednesdays, What's Cooking Wednesday, Cast Party Wednesday THURSDAY – Full Plate Thursday, Delightfully Inspiring Thursday, Creative Juice Thursday, It's a Party, FRIDAY – Feasting in Fellowship Fridays, Fridays Unfolded,SATURDAY - Weekend Wrap-Up Party,

Multitudes on Monday - Blessings #94 - 100

94. Austin and Michael are attending Bible school at our church this week and Doug is one of the van drivers transporting children to and from church each evening. I am so thankful for the blessing of Bible School.

95. We have had some wonderful rain showers the last two days that I am so thankful for. I'm sure the garden is grateful as well.

96. I am reading the book The Cure for the Common Life by Max Lucado and enjoying it immensely.

97. Bananas - for making Banana Bread and Banana Pineapple Cake. Yummy!

98. I am very thankful that the cattle that got out of their pasture and walked across the yard today stayed away from the garden. There were around 20 of them and they could have wrecked the garden. But they didn't.

99. I am so glad my kids like to cook. Austin made Garlic Shrimp Pasta for lunch today and Amanda made tacos for dinner. A true blessing.

100. Our managerie of pets that provide constant entertainment . . . and work. But mostly entertainment.

For these and many other blessings I am grateful today.

~ Linking Here ~



Menu Plan - Monday June 20 - Saturday June 25

Breakfasts

Monday - Friday: Cereal, Milk, Juice

Saturday - Monkey Bread, Little Smokeys, Applesauce

Lunch

Monday: Garlic Shrimp Pasta, Corn, Pears (Austin)*

Tuesday: Ham and Cheese Roll Ups, Fruit Cocktail, Bananas

Wednesday: Hamburger French Fry Casserole, Cooked Carrots, Butter Bread

Thursday: Pizza Rolls, Green Beans, Apple Salad

Friday: Macaroni and Cheese, Fried Okra, Pears (Austin)*

Saturday: Leftovers or Sandwiches and Fruit

Dinner

Monday: Tacos, Fruit Cocktail (Amanda)*

Tuesday: Kielbasa Sausage with Squash and Potatoes, Salad, Butter Bread

Wednesday: Taco Pie, Corn, Cheesecake (Amanda)*

Thursday: Pasta Salad, Pineapple Rings

Friday: Baked Spaghetti, Green Beans, Garlic Bread

Saturday: Simple Baked Chicken Breasts, Chicken Stuffing, Salad, Cantaloupe

Snacks

Animal Crackers

Graham Crackers

Bananas

Grapes

Oreos

Popcorn

*Austin and Amanda each plan and prepare two meals each week.

~Linking Here ~

Menu Plan Monday, Unwasted Homemaking Linky, Making a Home



A Few Of This Week's Adventures

I've already posted about our fun with The Tale of Peter Rabbit and also about our Bible story and craft this week. And if you want to know which books we've been reading check out this post. But aside from books and crafts we've also had a lot of other fun.

CJ and Austin spent a lot of time looking at, talking about and sorting collections of cars. 

They also spent a lot of time outside together. It seemed like they often each had their own seperate activities but were enjoying being together at the same time.

Drawing pictures.

Playdough.

On Wednesday evening I went out to the garden to plant more corn. Doug bought small garden tools that the kids can easily use and they enjoyed digging in the dirt.

This is Amanda screaming "Oh no! She has the camera again!"

This is one of my favorite pictures. Michael has the water hose pointed at Doug and Doug has the "Oh no, you better not" look.

It's a little hard to see but in the above pictures Doug has a white bandage around his ankle and is wearing his slippers to work in the garden. That's because he was welding earlier that evening and somehow burned his ankle.

Ouch!

Playing with cars and trucks at the picnic table.

Austin found a toad one morning that he and CJ found very interesting and entertaining.

Friday evening Doug took the kids for rides in the cart behind the riding lawn mower. Everyone but Landon had a turn. Landon liked to follow along behind but refused to get in the cart.

I love these pictures of the row of kids following along behind the cart. Sort of like a country Pied Piper.

~ Linking Here ~

It's Playtime

Outdoor Play

Books We've Been Enjoying This Week

We've enjoyed lots of different ones this week but there are three main ones that we've spent a lot of time with.

The first one is The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter. This was one of my favorite stories as a kid and I've enjoyed sharing it with my group of kids this week. I posted more about this story and the activities we did related to the story here.

The next book we've been enjoying is Richard Scarry's Best Storybook Ever (Giant Little Golden
Book). Some favorite stories from this book have been Good Night, Little Bear and What Animals Do. This has been our go-to book for a story just before naptime.

The third book on my list is actually one for older kids or even adults that Amanda (my 12 year old) has been reading this week. The title of this one is Search to Belong and is written by Christmas Carol Kauffman. This is a book I remember my mom reading to my sister and I. It is about a boy who was adopted as a baby and about his search for his birth parents when he grew older.








~ Linking Here ~