A Perfect Day to Stop

"The weather outside is frightful but the fire is so delightful..."  It's just nasty out. But it's not all bad. December 31rst is a great day to have lots of time to sit and think. What have I thought about, you ask? I've been thinking about my home, about what works and what doesn't.

We spent a good deal of time last year decluttering. But there's still more to do. Always more... It's no longer about what we don't want. It's about what we don't have room in our life for. That tends to be a tougher decision but I am so ready. 

I've got a hankering to give my pantry and closets a makeover. I want to:
~Take out everything and give them a pretty paint job...
~Figure out exactly what is stored in each locations...
~Measure and choose how each item will be stored...
~Add whatever organizational storage solutions that are needed...
~Bask in the joy of everything having a place, being organized, easy to find and easy to keep clean!
I can't wait!! I am way more excited than closets should cause me to be! But part of the pay-off for decluttering is easy organization!

Then, this year I want to restore my kitchen cabinets. I can't replace them or reface them. But I hope to give them a bright, clean look. What color? I have no idea! I'd like to add a nice backsplash behind the counter. Maaaaaybeee I'll get to replace the floor. We'll see. 

And paint the ceilings...all of them...

No thoughts of sequin dresses or jewelry or just the right shoes! haha! No, I am thinking a million thoughts of the New Year. A friend of mine and I were talking the other day. We both had decided to solve a problem around the house every day, at least one. 
For myself, I've let my back problems stop me too much. If I can only do a half an hour of painting I will. And over many days the job will get done. And I'll take the whole year just like that...and by the end I'll hopefully see alot get done that wouldn't have gotten done. 
Yes, there's more weighty and more important things to think about. I promise I'll think about those too. But, for today, I'm thinking about paint colors and organizational shelves and containers. I'm thinking about homekeeping and making this house work for me. I'm thinking about throwing off the weight of too much stuff. I'm thinking about plowing through...and it sounds like fun. ;)

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17

Easy Peasy Very Pretty Christmas Ornaments

My daughter Rachel has been busy making these easy but pretty Christmas ornaments. :)

This craft is easy for little ones, relaxing for grown ups! All you need are foam balls, sequins, Christmas ribbon and LOTS of push pins (really, I mean lots and lots!).

All you do is put the push pin in the whole of the sequin and pin it to the foam ball. Choose a pattern or make it random. Either way it's shiny and pretty. First pin the ribbon to the ball so that the ends of the ribbon doesn't show. :) 

They look very pretty on the Christmas tree as they reflect the lights!  Enjoy! :) 

Easy Advent Wreath

When my kids were young, we always enjoyed making an Advent Wreath. Just two Chinet paper plates, 4 candles, craft glue and any pretty pine pieces, pine cones, acorns, or anything decorative is all that is needed. It's easy enough for the youngest crafter and inexpensive too. (I know I don't have the right colors for the candles. I use what I can get inexpensively. This year it was 3 cranberry colored and 1 gold.)

First I cut holes in one paper plate. I make an "x" shape and fit a candle in to make sure it's big enough. I make 4 holes symmetrically. Then I apply glue to the bottom plate.

 Next I fit the plates together so there is the empty space inside. A little glue on the end of each candle helps them stay stationary once I place them in the holes.

Now all that's left if decorating! Kids can use their imaginations and glue down anything! I kept mine simple this year with scraps from the wreaths I already made and a couple of pine cones. 


Enjoy! :) 

I Love Saturdays!

I made my first ever Evergreen Wreath today!! It just needs a bow. I need to get some ribbon, maybe tomorrow. I am very excited because wreaths can be a bit expensive and I live in the middle of a pine forest so it's silly to spend the money! I don't know why I thought it would be hard. How did I learn?? On Youtube of course!! You can find out how to do just about anything on there. :) 

It was as easy as cutting down branches...

Gathering bunches in my hand, tall in the back and short up front...

And using wire to attach them to a frame. I bought 2 frames at the craft store during a sale. I think I am going to pine garland next and maybe a pine cone wreath. I have a never ending supply of pine cones too, of course.

I love Saturdays. It tends to be a quiet day at home. I love to watch some home improvement shows, get some stuff done around the house, and spend some time on hobbies. I love to have family times watching movies or having a campfire.

Especially this time of year, when it gets cold and dark early, I have to work harder to convince myself to leave the house. I could easily go "reclusive." :) That would not be good though...balance, balance..

"The fear of the LORD leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble." Proverbs 19:23

Winter Sports

It's that time of the year again...time to start those winter sports we all love. What's your favorite winter sport?  Here's mine...

Well, you may not seeing knitting at the Olympics any time soon, haha, but I'm telling you it's my favorite winter time sport! I specifically love to get a blanket going. That way I get to knit and stay warm at the same time!


I have two blankets going this year. The first is with Homespun Lion Brand yarn. It's so soft! The color I am using is called "Ocean." I think it will go nicely in the living room. Here's a close-up:

My other blanket is a white cotton blanket:

Notice how it has that edging? I am using the "Favorite Grandmother's Dishcloth" pattern. Instead of finishing for a small square I'll just keep increasing until it is blanket sized. Here is the pattern:
Grandmother's Dishcloth
No fancy patterns, I can knit and chat or knit and watch a movie with the family. :) It's relaxing and helps me de-stress from the day. 


What's your favorite craft or home art? This week I want to try make a couple of Christmas wreaths. I found some tutorials online. If it comes out, I'll surely share. :)


"and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

Thankfulness

I missed Thursday again...that's okay...I'll just be thankful on Friday too. :) There are so many needs around our country and around the world. So many are hurt by severe storms and other tragedies. For some we must pray and trust God to send the right people. For other tragedies, we ARE the right people and we need to go and do what God has called us to do. So, as I write out my blessings as a praise to God, it is not without recognizing those who are suffering here and around the world. 


I am reading through Ephesians today and was so struck by all of the spiritual blessings for those who turn to Jesus by faith. 


234. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." Eph. 1: 3-6 So much to be thankful for...


235. I've been having fun getting veggies planted. I am so thankful to get to plant food we can eat. 

Here's my little tomatoes...

Bush cucumbers...

Garlic...

...and green bell peppers...It's a good start!


236. You'll notice marigolds around my veggies. Marigolds keep the consuming bugs away. How awesome that God gave us flowers that are beautiful AND protect our food!


237. Also thankful for the beauty of flowers and I've started filling my pots as well. 

Oh, bad picture...but you get the idea. I like to leave room for them to expand and grow as I fertilize...

238. I am doubly thankful that I got a lot of things done this week that I have been procrastinating! There's often stuff to be done that I don't particularly like to do. I always pray that God will help me find motivation for what I have procrastinated and then I seek to push through. It feels so good when I am done. Most of these things involved paperwork but it also included getting my dog shaved down for summer (which he hates of course).
Here he is before:

And after...

I love how he goes from pudgy dog with all the fur to tiny with no fur.


*Side note...speaking of paperwork...this is what it looks like when I get motivated to get it all done... I tend to do it all at once. I guess I should be thankful that:
239. My family is very patient with my ways!

I like everything where I can grab it...lol!


240. I am thankful for family times around the campfires, making smores while we talk and joke around. 

"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you." 1 Thess. 5:28

Looking forward to May!

I've been kinda quiet here this week. Sometimes I am just quiet...hopefully I've been listenin'...I've definitely been knitting!! It's been awhile and it feels good to have picked it up again. :) Above you can see my efforts!! I'd like to make some knit hats soon. I am looking for a good free pattern! You know those knit caps young men wear? I'd like to make those!


BUT, it's time to put the knitting aside for a bit. Instead I'll:


~DECLUTTER: I told my husband I am going to get a bunch of boxes and declutter like we're moving out! I am excited about it and I found someone I can donate to who is having a yard sale at the end of May. That'll give me a good deadline and will make me finish in time to...


~PLANT: Here in Maine you can't really plant seriously until Memorial Day. I don't usually grow too much as my soil is poor. But I'd like to increase by one small raised bed per year. I'd like to at least plant tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, peas, and peppers. Then I have rhubarb, mint, oregano, and chive. I also love annuals. :) 


Of course I can't forget that in the middle of May we will graduate our first homeschool student! Exciting stuff!!! 


Once planting is done it's time to just kick back and enjoy summer. We love to go to the beach (both ocean and lake) and spend time with our friends. This year we're shopping for some affordable kayaks too. I know the kids would love those out on the lake!! 


"Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share." 1 Timothy 6:18

Springtime Around the House! :)

Now that I've confessed the priorities I am striving to keep (yesterday's post) I can share those *other* things that are keeping me occupied! I am still knitting and knitting and knitting for the craft fair of two friends. :) My latest design if you can see it through my not-so-great picture quality is a cookie jar with a rolling pin behind it and a measuring cup on the bottom. It's a little big for a dishcloth but I loved knitting it up! (I find knitting quite relaxing. :)  ) I can't believe how much cotton I had sitting in a bag not being used! I feel just a tad better now that it has a good use... I doubt I'll get it all knit up in time but I'll do my best... I pray God will multiply my small offering. After all, I've seen what he can do with a few loaves and fish! ;) 

Now I had an exciting thing happen! A friend from The Christian Homekeeper Forum offered to do some knitting too for the same craft fair! She lives in a different state than me and has never met the families in the craft fair (who are raising money to adopt sweet children from Haiti). Yet she wanted to help! I received her projects on Saturday! She got so much done as by the time she found out about it there wasn't much time AND she works! I will keep her anonymous since I haven't asked if I could share her identity. But I think her projects are beautiful and in my excitement I wanted to share! 

                        A beautiful baby sweater, hat, bootie set.

              My camera doesn't do this scarf pattern justice. Love it! 

                           I love the color of this mauve scarf!


It's just very cool to me when we can all work together toward common, wonderful goals!!


"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2


I've had decluttering on my mind. Honestly I would love to get rid of 80% of my possessions. The hardest part of decluttering is *cutting my losses.* It is accepting that I bought things I shouldn't have and it is getting rid of things I'd like to keep but can't keep if I want to meet my goal of having a home that is easier to keep uncluttered. I really don't want *storage*, those horrible boxes in the basement and attic. I don't mind off season clothes or Christmas decorations...that sort of thing...but boxes of stuff we THINK we need? No thank you!! But it IS hard to part with things. However, I know it will feel very freeing so it's worth it!


On the other hand I am beginning to work more on shopping sales for food and stocking up a bit more than usual when I see a sale on something we use often (staples). Those pesky gas and oil prices are a good reminder to use our money wisely and save as much as possible when I can. I don't plan to get anywhere *extreme couponing* but I know I can do a lot better than I am now. I had planned on buying the Sunday paper to get the coupons but forget. However I did still find some good sales. Better luck next week with the coupons! 


I hope you are having a wonderful spring! I know many are having some pretty scary storms. What is keeping you busy this spring?

Progress...

Don't you just love to see progress in your life? Sometimes I can be so fixed on *what's next* that I never see progress. This is most true with home improvement. Before I am done painting one room I am planning the next project. My husband always admonishes me to at least sit and look at the painted room for a moment before mentally moving on to *what's next.* It's important to keep growing and changing, but often times part of learning to be content is in noticing *progress.*


~Progress~

It's hard to see but there's daffodil buds peeking up through the leaves. I live in the woods, really so buds have to work hard to peek up!

These are my irises peeking through. Can you see them? Maybe you just have to trust me!! LOL!! My flowers seem to come up last compared to others in my area, but I choose to savor them! I'll enjoy the flowers of others now and then mine!! Double blessing!!


~Progress~

I am spending most of my spare time knitting, working toward a goal to donate as many knitted dish cloths as possible to a craft fair to benefit adoption from Haiti. A friend from the Christian Homekeeper is joining me by knitting hats and scarves. It's very exciting to me!! With the general "Grandmother's Cloth" I can knit one per day. The designed cloths take a bit longer so I try to rotate what I am doing. 

Here is an angel pattern I decided to try. I really had fun knitting it up and I am pretty sure I'll make another. You can find the pattern by clicking here .

This one is suppose to be a Moose Cloth, but it looks like a deer to me!! LOL!! I did it in a tan cotton yarn. This would be a good one for wives to purchase for the men in their life! (wink, wink!) You can find the pattern by clicking here . Rhonda White designed this and I always love her designs!! 


~Progress~

This is my tattered Bible reading plan! I keep it tucked in my Bible of course. The timing was perfect this year to read through the Bible. I am just enjoying it so much and getting so much out of it! I am happy to be doing well plodding along. Totally a GOD thing!! 


~Progress~ 

We're preparing to launch our first arrow (...sniff, sniff...). We're mailing for his license test date this week, his diploma is ordered, we're finishing up his school year. The college apps are complete, the FAFSA is done, he'll take the ACT soon (he's already done the SAT). He'll officially graduate our homeschool on May 20th! It's coming fast!! 

My other two students are progressing and finishing their school year as well!! Christian will soon say good-bye to middle school and be an official *High Schooler*!

Rachel is finishing up her 7th grade year! Why the shocked faces you ask? Well, when your mom blogs as a hobby you just never know when your going to get hit with a camera flash!! haha!!


~Progress~

Rachel had to go *dairy-free* this year. It's been very tough. But we are slowly making progress in finding her things to eat. Above was a cored, sliced apple with peanut butter, granola, and dairy-free chocolate chips! :) 


~Progress~


I thinking I am feeling progress with my back pain. I am able to do more work without suffering ill effects. We bought a new bed last year and it has really helped (Kingsdown). I know God is helping me and I am so thankful!


~Progress~


Of course the progress I really want to see in my life is spiritual progress! Thankfully, it is God who works in me. My job is to surrender to his work!! 

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

   “For your sake we face death all day long;
   we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:28-39

What progress are you seeing?

Marvelous Monday :)

This is me during a typical school day! I keep my laptop nearby and something else to do, which lately is knitting. This way I keep busy and yet am available when one of my *students* needs help. :)  

I can whip up these grandmother's dishcloths in no time, at least one a day just using spare time. You can see the pattern by clicking here .
As you can see, I haven't hidden the tails yet!

This pink one was fun to knit and I plan to make more. Hopefully you can tell that there's a butterfly motif on it. You can find this pattern and many more by clicking here .
Knitting dish cloths is a great way learn to knit and to learn different stitches because they are quick little projects! I've had lots of cotton stored for quite some time so it's great to be making use of it!

I worked on our Menu's for the rest of the week (Today-Thursday). It's not a full week but it works best for our budget right now. :)
Everyone makes their own breakfast and I plan lunches and suppers. Here's what's "on the menu!" 
Monday: 
L=buttered noodles and turkey bacon
S=baked ham, mashed potatoes, carrots, cabbage, rhutabegas
Tuesday (Tyler college class day so he and I eat late): 
L=Spaghetti soup for youngers, grilled cheese for late arrivals
S=Grilled steak, home fries, green beans
Wednesday
L=Pancakes or French Toast, bacon
S=Chicken Parmesan, penne, marinara sauce, cucumbers and baby carrots
Thursday (another class day)
L=Chicken nuggets and oven fries for youngers, pizza for late arrivals
S=Oven baked chicken legs (Recipe HERE ), Mac and Cheese, corn


Snacks for the week: pretzels, oven popped popcorn, strawberries, apples, bananas, watermelon


Breakfasts: cold cereal, yogurt and fruit, bagels and cream cheese or p'butter, eggs or omelets


I hope you are having a Marvelous Monday!


"Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
   you make my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
   surely I have a delightful inheritance." 
Psalm 16:5-6