Late Start, Chicken in the Mirror, and Mountain Fun

WORDS TO LIVE BY

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2

TODAY'S QUOTE

The new frontier lies not beyond the planets but within each one of us. ~ Pierre Elliot Trudeau

ANIMAL UPDATES

Amanda decided this morning that Link the Chick was bored. How she knew he/she was bored I have no idea but anyway - the problem had to be fixed. So she gave Link a mirror. Link seemed truly amazed to find another chick in the cage!

HOMESCHOOL

Last night seemed to be a night NOT made for sleeping - for any of us.  So after getting to bed late and not sleeping well we got a late start this morning. We didn't get as much schoolwork done today as I would have liked but we did get as little done.

SOME OF THE RESOURCES WE USED TODAY

Austin and Amanda

Michael

AROUND THE HOUSE

We also didn't get much done around the house - especially me. I did get two loads of laundry done and some dishes washed. Austin also washed some dishes and did the daily cleaning in the upstairs bathroom. Amanda did the daily cleaning in the downstairs bathroom and vacuumed the playroom and living room.

IN THE GARAGE

Doug didn't actually work in the garage this evening but spent a lot of time trying to get an order to go through for a part he needs to finish one of his projects.

OUT AND ABOUT

Yesterday after church and lunch and naps we (my dad and my younger siblings, my sister and her kids, a friend of ours, and me and my kids) went up on the mountain for awhile. I always love time spent in the mountains.

This afternoon Michael and I were at my sister's for several hours to watch the kids so she could go do some things.

READING AROUND THE WEB

Orange Oatmeal Cookies at Best of Long Island and Central Florida 

Free Weekly Planner Printable Based on 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Book at Mom's Small Victories

DAILY DEALS

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation if you make a purchase using these links.

WHY I WRITE THE WALNUT ACRE CHRONICLES

LINKING HERE
TUESDAY - Titus 2 Tuesday, Party in Your PJs WEDNESDAY - Homemaking Linkup THURSDAY - I Choose Joy, Little Things Thursdays

Some Saturday Happenings

WORDS TO LIVE BY

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29

TODAY'S QUOTE

By swallowing evil words unsaid no one has ever harmed his stomach. ~ Winston Churchill

IN THE KITCHEN

I bought several packs of Cheddarwurst last week that I thought would go good with potatoes. For dinner this evening I made a casserole with cubed cooked potatoes, cubed Cheddarwurst, diced onions, cheese and milk. I used flour as thickener and seasoned with salt and pepper.

I also started a slow cooker of butter beans with ham and onions for lunch tomorrow. 

YARD AND GARDEN

Doug mowed the yard today and parts of this garden that are done for this year. I didn't get as much this year as I had hoped but it's OK. It was still fun.

Mateah found this praying mantis in the yard this afternoon and was SO excited. She came running in asking me to come take a picture of it. 

AROUND THE HOUSE

I was home all day today and was able to get a good bit of work done here at home. I washed the kitchen walls, cleaned out the refrigerator, cleaned a shelf we have over our stove, dusted and vacuumed the master bedroom, swept the floors, took out the trash, did one load of laundry, and washed the dishes. Amanda vacuumed the living room and playroom.

IN THE GARAGE

Doug was out trying to work on this trailer today. Michael, Cayson and Talis were out with him and I'm not sure how much he got done because they were asking questions and needing help. But they seemed to be having a good time.

OUT AND ABOUT

Michael went with Mateah and Nancy to a birthday party this afternoon and Doug and Austin went to help a friend with a project for a couple hours. Doug also took Michael, Talis, and Cayson with him when he took trash to the dump.

AND MORE

It was a beautiful day today and the kids were outside a lot. It's the time of year when I try to make sure they make the most of the nice weather because all too soon cooler weather will be here.

DAILY DEALS

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation if you make a purchase using these links.

WHY I WRITE THE WALNUT ACRE CHRONICLES

LINKING HERE

TUESDAY - Titus 2 Tuesday WEDNESDAY - Homemaking Linkup

Errand Day, Plywood and More

WORDS TO LIVE BY

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. 
Psalm 27:14

TODAY'S QUOTE

Time is the wisest counsellor of all.  ~ Pericles

ON MY MIND

AROUND THE HOUSE

I got three loads of laundry washed, dried and put away and the dishes washed. Austin did the daily cleaning in the upstairs bathroom and took out the trash and Amanda did the daily cleaning in the downstairs bathroom and swept and mopped the kitchen, mudroom and bathroom.

OUT AND ABOUT

Today was errand day. We made stops at the bank, Sharp Shopper, Walmart, Goodwill, and two pet stores. We went to Cici's Pizza for lunch. Michael always wants to try his hand at getting something from the machines when we go to Cici's. Today he ended up with a bouncy ball.

1. 

AND MORE

Doug brought home a load of plywood from work today. He's thinking he might use some it for temporary sides on the trailor to haul the pig. After that most of it is going in the attic for flooring. I am so excited to get a floor in the attic! I love the idea of extra space for storage.

DAILY DEALS

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation if you make a purchase using these links.

WHY I WRITE THE WALNUT ACRE CHRONICLES

LINKING HERE
TUESDAY - Titus 2 Tuesday  SATURDAY - Saturday Soirée

Building Blocks, Birthday Party and More

WORDS TO LIVE BY

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord

Colossians 3:23 

TODAY'S QUOTE

Don't be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves. ~ Dale Carnegie

Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles on your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain. ~ Author unknown

ON MY MIND

Sometimes when I write these daily posts it seems like I'm writing the same things over and over, or that the things I'm writing about are so small and unimportant. But it's the little moments that make up a life. Little things are simply building blocks, set one on top of the other, day after day.  Yes, every day I do some of the same things over again - sweep the floors, wash this dishes, loads and loads of laundry. And these small daily things (OK, sometimes laundry doesn't seem so small) help add up to a clean livable home for my family. Four pages a day, four days a week with Michael in his workbook add up. One or two chapters a day from several different books with several different children add up to many books read, many ideas shared, and many lessons learned. One chapter of Scripture each school day helps lay out the path for walking with Jesus. And as I sit down with my planner each day and fit in all these "little" blocks of my, I also find spaces to work on some other goals and projects as well. Fifteen minutes here, 30 minutes there, several hours on a Saturday afternoon, and piece by piece things begin to come together. 

ANIMAL UPDATES

Amanda's little dog, Pepper, is often on the porch with Michael and me while we work on his schoolwork. Today she was standing guard, making sure the kitten didn't get to close. She doesn't seem to mind the adult cats but she chases the kittens away every time they come near.

When I was at my Dad's this evening I loved watching these little kittens run and play.

HOMESCHOOL

SOME OF THE RESOURCES WE USED TODAY

Austin and Amanda

Austin's work was all online today so he used his tablet a lot. We love these tablets for schoolwork and nearly anything else we would use a computer or laptop for.


Our Scripture reading today was Ephesians 5.

Michael

AROUND THE HOUSE

Four loads of laundry washed, dried and put away, sweeping the floors and washing dishes were my contributions to the housework today. Amanda did the daily cleaning of the downstairs bathroom, and picked up and vacuumed the playroom and living room. Austin did the daily cleaning in the upstairs bathroom, and took out the trash. 

OUT AND ABOUT

Today is my sister's birthday so we had a surprise party for her this evening. The older kids had so much fun decorating and getting things set up. Our cousin Ericka made some delicious chicken and a wonderful pasta salad.   A friend picked up the ice cream cake and I took chips. 

AND MORE

Michael and I went for a walk/bike ride after lunch today. It was a beautiful day to be out - sunny but not too hot with a nice breeze. 

They're kind of hard to see but these bright yellow flowers had lots of orange brown butterflies on them. 

DAILY DEALS

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small compensation if you make a purchase using these links.

WHY I WRITE THE WALNUT ACRE CHRONICLES

LINKING HERE
TUESDAY -  Words With Winter FRIDAY - Friendship Friday SATURDAY - Saturday Soirée