The Big White Farmhouse

No.460: The Wednesday Five #13

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 11:00:00 +0000

This post contains affiliate links.

Happy Wednesday!

A QUOTE

Gentlemen, we are going to relentlessly chase perfection, knowing full well we will not catch it, because nothing is perfect. But we are going to relentlessly chase it, because in the process we will catch excellence. I am not remotely interested in just being good. — Vince Lombardi

First team meeting as Packers coach (1959), reported in Chuck Carlson, Game of My Life: 25 Stories of Packers Football (2004), p. 149

Obviously, this quote was about football, but I found it inspiring in the context of the spiritual life. Every day, we have the opportunity to become a little bit holier, to love others a little bit deeper, to live our vocations a little bit better. We strive. (This video is on the same wavelength and worth a listen.)

TWO SOUPS FOR CHILLY DAYS

I love fall/winter because I can stretch my dollar a little bit further with soup! They usually only require a small amount of meat and a lot of vegetables or beans, which helps me feed my crew. I have recently made the two soups below and love them because they are delicious and they make a lot. There's usually plenty for dinner the first night and I'll have the leftovers for lunch.

Sicilian Chicken Soup (I like to serve this with either a sourdough loaf or a crusty bread.)
Homemade Chick-Fil-A Chicken Tortilla Soup (I pair this one with tortilla chips.)

A RECOMMENDATION

I got this hair dryer/curler from my parents (at the recommendation of my sister!) for my birthday and I am obsessed! My hair has a weird wave thing going and I usually have to blow dry and then use some of sort of curler or straightener to look presentable. But this gadget does both things at once! It saves so much time and is so easy. I love it.

THREE BOOKS ON MY NIGHTSTAND

Fiction: My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok
Religious: Inside the Light by Sr. Angela de Fatima Coelho
Nonfiction: The Parasitic Mind by Gad Saad

A MOMENT OF HAPPINESS

After years and years, I'm finally almost finished with my "Winter" cross-stitch! I keep this project tucked away for most of the year and usually pull it out for a few weeks in January. It's been a fun little tradition, but I'm ready to start something new. I got started now in November and can see the finish line!

No.459: What I Decluttered // November 2020

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 11:00:00 +0000

Month #14 for my 1,000 Item Declutter Challenge! Here are the ground rules:

Only spend 10 minutes at one time and only in one specific area.
Monday through Wednesday, seek out items that we no longer need and make a pile. Then Thursday through Saturday, make a plan for how to deal with them. (This has worked so well and avoided that dreaded box of "what should I do with these?" items.)
Possible places to find new homes for items: Ebay/Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace, Trash Nothing website or the local Buy Nothing Facebook group and as a last resort, Goodwill

I feel a responsibility for the things I have and want to be intentional with how I dispose of them. Questions I asked myself: If it's here, what purpose does it serve? Can I use it up? Can I enjoy it vs. keeping it tucked away in drawers and boxes? And if not, can I let it go to someone who may need it more?

_____________________________________

WHAT I DECLUTTERED THIS MONTH

3 books.
One tile sample.
9 pieces of Sophie's outgrown clothing from last year.
20 pieces of my clothing. With the changing of the seasons, I went through my closet and dresser again and weeded out the unnecessary/unworn/worn-to-shreds items. I sold most things on Poshmark/eBay, threw out a handful of really old and stained t-shirts, and sent the rest to Goodwill.
One open bag of Pull-Ups. We only used a few of these when P was potty-training and I felt bad throwing 20+ of them away. I posted them on my local Buy Nothing Project Facebook group and had someone interested in minutes!
9 empty egg cartons. Brought these to the farm where my son works so they could reuse them.
4 empty paper jewelry boxes. You know the box that holds the nicer box that holds the piece of jewelry? Why do I still have those? Into the recycling bin.
1 decorative bowl.
16 baby girl clothes, 2 swaddle blankets, two hair accessories, a rattle, a lovey and a baby comb. A woman from my local Buy Nothing Project group made me aware of a young pregnant mother, due in January and in need of baby supplies. I've already given most of Sophie's baby clothes away, but I did find a few more things in the bin to pass along. Mamas have to stick together!
One teacher guide. Sold on ebay.
3 Halloween treat bags. These were Star Wars themed bags that my biggest boys used years ago. I surprisingly found a buyer for them on ebay!
One Halloween cat headband.
2 broken disc drives. Why we still have these in a drawer is beyond me...
One pillow insert.
2 tea towels. We used these to literal shreds!
10 magazines. My dad passes on magazines to us after he's done with them and I finally browsed through the stack. Into the recycling bin.
2 DVDs. Sold on ebay.
One guitar tuner.
One broken phone charger.
A baby stroller and car seat. Since we haven't had any new babies in our house for years (which is a little sad...), it felt silly to keep these in the garage when someone could use them right now. We gave the stroller to someone on Trash Nothing and while the car seat still has a little time before "expiring," the new owners could also bring it to Target for a trade-in deal on a brand new one.
One pair of toddler snow pants, a fleece jacket, and a button-down shirt.
11 dry markers.
One DVD case.

Items decluttered this month: 116
Money made this month: $70.73

Total items decluttered so far: 903

Total money made so far: $1,258.13

P.S. To "count," the item had to physically leave my house. So while I have listed a handful of things online, those aren't counted until they have sold.

No.458: Five Good Things // No.04

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 11:00:00 +0000

This post contains affiliate links.

1 // SMILE'S PRID HOMEOPATHIC DRAWING SALVE

I've been meaning to share this homeopathic salve for months. We use it most often for bug bite relief but it also supposedly works on blisters, splinters and ingrown hairs. And a little goes a long way! A good one to keep in your medicine cabinet.

2 // A WAY TO USE UP A BOX OF CHEERIOS

We had a box of plain Cheerios in the back of the pantry that was nearing its expiration date. Since no one was very keen to eat them, I searched for a way to use them up. Enter No-Bake Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars! It's a super easy recipe and needs only three ingredients, although we drizzled the top with melted milk chocolate because we're sugarholics. A yummy treat.

3 // THIS PRAYER WHEN LIFE FEELS DARK AND SCARY

I found this prayer recently and will keep it on hand for the times I feel overwhelmed and worried.

4 // A CREATIVE WHO RECREATES AMERICAN GIRL DRESSES
By the wonder of the Internet, I stumbled on a really cool series on the blog, Stars + Field: The Kirsten Project! The research and attention to detail on her finished pieces are just incredible. I'm selfishly hoping that she moves on to Samantha (the American Girl doll I had as a kid) next.

5 // A BOOK FOR BEGINNER READERS

I've mentioned this little book on the blog before, but since we recently pulled it off the shelf again, I thought I'd share it again. We've used ABC See, Hear, Do: Learn to Read 55 Words for speech practice (for my son with a speech delay) and for learning letter sounds and it's a big hit for both. Highly recommend.

No.457: Homemaking Notes on a Monday // Vol.05

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 11:00:00 +0000

This post contains affiliate links.

The weather outside is //

Looks to be a pretty warm week! I'm going to try to spend as much time outside as I can.

On the breakfast plate this morning // my same old, same old: oatmeal mixed with pumpkin puree and sprinkled with raisins on top.

As I look outside my window // I still see a bit of foliage on the trees, but the rain and wind from the last few weeks have made most of the trees pretty bare. What a change from the last time I wrote one of these posts! It's still beautiful, but in a different kind of way.

As I look around the house // I see a living room in complete shambles, but hopefully not for long! The dehumidifiers will hopefully be removed by this afternoon and our new couch should be delivered on Thursday. In other living room news, I think I've made a decision about painting the stone fireplace, but have to run it by Mark one more time before we pull the trigger. We're also debating the pros and cons of moving our television to a less prominent location.

On this week's to-do list //

take a BIG internet break
order a few Christmas presents
begin the last 54-Day Novena for the year
put flannel sheets on the kids' beds
make a donation to the food bank (100LT #90)
research the Mediterranean Diet to help alleviate some of my blood pressure issues

Thinking about // "de-frumpifying" my wardrobe for the fall/winter. When lockdown first started, I spent waaay too much time in "comfy clothes" AKA sweats/athleticwear and it really started to take a toll on my mental health. Thankfully, I pulled myself out of that funk and made it a point to get dressed everyday. I actually wore dresses for most of the summer and loved feeling put together while still being comfortable. So I'm pondering how to recreate that for the colder months ahead. Dresses seem the easiest way to go, but how can I stay warm? Is there such a thing as comfortable tights? Maybe leggings?

Looking ahead // to the ultimate low-stress Christmas! Taking our own family photos never happened, so I picked a beautiful letterpress card to mail instead. Gifts will be simple with my typical less-but-better approach. We'll bake and bake and bake some more. Decorating will be staggered throughout the month as is our Advent tradition, but I am excited to add a little cheer to our porch this year. (Yay for debt freedom!) I've already preordered a wreath (remember my wreath story from Advent 2018?) and plan to add a few other simple decorations out there too. In a year that has been a complete rollercoaster and full of unknowns, we're going to celebrate the newborn King big time!

On the menu this week //

Monday: leftovers from the weekend
Tuesday: burgers on the grill and french fries from the freezer

Wednesday: Sicilian chicken soup

Thursday: beef stew

Friday: shrimp scampi and garlic bread

Currently reading // I've got too many books going all at once and never enough time to read them. The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware just came off of the holds list at the library. I'm slowly making my way through The Parasitic Mind by Gad Saad. I'm almost halfway through Saint John Paul the Great: His Five Loves by Jason Evert, but I also just received the new book, Inside the Light: Understanding the Message of Fatima by Sr. Angela de Fatima Coelho and I just had to dive in to that one too.

No.456: Ordinary Days

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 11:00:00 +0000

All week long, I have felt the juxtaposition of two simultaneous but separate worlds. One world held the tense build up to Election Day, followed by a confusing and stressful aftermath.

The other world - my little world - was strangely the same as always: meals were planned and eaten, math lessons were learned, floors were swept and laundry was washed. I tossed our rotting Jack-o-lanterns in the compost heap and raked crunchy leaves for mulch on my garden beds. We worked on a new puzzle and I started jotting plans for Christmas. We even had a minor renovation issue! (We had lots of rain last week and the unfinished fireplace work caused water to start dripping from the ceiling and pooling under a part of the hardwood flooring! So now we have five days of constant dehumidifier machines to hopefully save the wood from mold, buckling and cracking.) It was all so...ordinary. I'm grateful for that.

For a few years now, Mark and I have chosen a piece of artwork as an anniversary present to each other. 2020 has been such a wild ride and we wanted to find something especially fitting. We finally settled on this piece (affiliate link) and I had it sent off to Framebridge to be professionally framed. And it should come as no surprise, but when did we receive the finished product? This week. God is faithful. In a year where we feel like the disciples, confused and afraid and crying out, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!", He is with us. I cling to that reminder and hope you do too. Be assured of my prayers for peace of heart and eyes to see the good still around us, friends. XO

He got into a boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" He said to them, "Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?" Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. The men were amazed and said, "What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?" - Matthew 8:23-27

No.455: My Latest Reads // October 2020

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 10:00:00 +0000

This post contains affiliate links.

P.S. I highly recommend Book Outlet! Use my link to receive $10 off your first order of $25 or more.

P.P.S. Have you heard of Bookshop? They are an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. You can check out all of my favorites on this page and I'll be linking to Bookshop and Book Outlet as much as I can from here on out. I hope you'll support them too!

#67. THE VERSIONS OF US by Laura Barnett || ★★☆☆☆

Clever premise, but really hard to keep all of the story lines straight. I also have a huge pet peeve with books that encourage the reader to root for/support infidelity and this book was rife with that. 2.5 stars, rounded up.

#68. THE HOURS OF THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST by Luisa Piccarreta || ★★★★☆

This book is a really unique look at the last 24 hours before Jesus' death. It's broken up hour by hour, drawing you into what was happening at that time. Each hour ends with a short meditation from Luisa's spiritual director. I found this deeply moving and powerful and it will be one that I return to again and again. I think it would be perfect for Lent or for meditating on during a Holy Hour. (FYI: Luisa Piccarreta has an open cause for canonization and is currently a Servant of God.)

#69. THE DIARY OF MATTIE SPENSER by Sandra Dallas || ★★☆☆☆

I was so disappointed with this book. For a "19th century pioneer novel," it sure did sound a lot like modern times - there was much more sexual content than I expected, infidelity (you know how I feel about that) and the positive view on abortion was heavy handed. I'd pass on this one.

P.S. These Is My Words is still my favorite in this genre.

#70. MY NAME IS LUCY BARTON by Elizabeth Strout || ★★★☆☆

I have said it before: It interests me how we find ways to feel superior to another person, another group of people. It happens everywhere, and all the time. Whatever we call it, I think it's the lowest part of who we are, this need to find someone else to put down. (p.95)

A quick read. There wasn't much of a story, but it did cause me to reflect on things unsaid between people, especially family members. 2.5 stars, rounded up.

#71. TOWNIE by Andre Dubus III || ★★★☆☆

I'm not quite sure where I heard about this memoir, especially because I've never read any of Dubus' novels. The book chronicles his childhood following the divorce of his parents and the struggles along the way until he finds his passion for writing in adulthood. To be honest, this book made me mad. It's the story of the consequences of a selfish father, a broken marriage and the effects on children. It's the story of a single mother trying to make it work for her four children and the limitations of that. It's the story of the lack of positive male role models in a boy's life. It's the story of trauma manifesting itself in unhealthy behavior. Resilience is admirable but it always comes at a cost.

#72. THE RIVER by Peter Heller || ★★★☆☆

Another pretty quick read. I heard about this suspense novel from Modern Mrs. Darcy, although many of my friends on Goodreads had already read it with varying reviews. The writing was good, but I feel like I would have gotten more out of it if I were more of an adventurer type? Some of the descriptions went right over my head.

_________________________

MY READING IN NUMBERS FOR 2020

Books Read: 72
Pages Read: 20,567

Fiction: 41 // Non-Fiction: 31
Kindle Books: 26 // Paper Books: 46
20th Century in Books Challenge: 29/100
Original 2020 books "to-read" total on Goodreads: 414 // Current "to-read" total: 370
_________________________

No.454: Combating a Crazy World with a Cozy Home

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Life feels really heavy right now, you know? The virus, the election, the nastiness of the Internet...if I stay too long in that stuff, I can start to feel very anxious and overwhelmed. So to combat that a little, I've been using my home as a distraction. Projects, new décor pieces, paint - it's all frivolous and silly, but it helps me have a little perspective. Even if the world around me seems to be going crazy, I can make my home a refuge for my family and all who visit here.

Today let's chat about a few things happening at the farmhouse:

PLANTS EVERYWHERE!

I'm so excited about the dwarf calamondin orange plant I just purchased from Gurney's Seed & Nursery. It's currently living in my bedroom for now since we get the best sunlight there. Everything I have purchased from Gurney's has arrived healthy and in great shape and this one was no exception. Can't wait to see how it grows.

I also just bought some paperwhite bulbs to force for Christmas from another favorite gardening company, Eden Brothers. My first time and I'm excited! (This is also 100LT #45.) Now to decide what containers I want to grow them in - the images I've found on Pinterest are so inspiring.

In other plant news, I'm slowly collecting houseplants to line the big windowsill in my master bathroom. I like to plant them in vintage milkglass containers and I just bought a really cute hobnail version on Poshmark. I used my earnings from things I've sold, so it ended up being "free!" Love when that happens.

LIVING ROOM

Big things are happening in the living room! We finally ordered a new couch. Our current couch is about six years old (a sectional from Ikea), didn't make the move well and has generally been uncomfortable to sit on ever since. Not to mention that as a puppy, Lucy ripped a big section off the back, so it's been not only uncomfortable but unsightly too! We put off replacing it until we reached debt freedom, but you better believe I started saving immediately after we made that last payment. With COVID, we aren't really sure when it will be arriving, but praying it comes before Christmas.

The fireplace is also getting a face lift: we're removing the propane insert and replacing it with a wood-burning one. (The picture above is the official "before" photo.) This project has been on our radar for awhile now, but the craziness of 2020 helped us finally pull the trigger. Even though wood is much more work, we see it as an insurance policy for any possibility of losing power during the winter. When we've lost power here in the past, we never used the fireplace for fear of carbon monoxide poisoning and it was cold. Having a wood-burning fireplace gives us peace of mind for whatever winter throws our way.

The fireplace itself is stone with a brown mortar and I'd like to whitewash it or maybe do a German schmear. I've done tons of research, but still haven't tackled it because it just feels so....final? What if I hate it? What if it screams DIY? I'm plagued by indecision. I'd also like to add a thick mantel and I need to deal with that ugly clump of wires too.

MASTER BEDROOM

Last year around this time, one of the kids was jumping on the side rails of our metal bed frame and broke it. A replacement got pushed to the back burner, but now I'm trying decide if I want another metal version or something different. I've been checking Facebook Marketplace for a deal, but no luck yet.

In other master bedroom news, I've been cozying up the room with a new throw blanket, a new candle, and books everywhere. Is there really anything better than that?

No.453: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Life // October 2020

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 10:00:00 +0000

✔ 100 LITTLE THINGS #75. Make another Extraordinary Ordinary video.

Saturday was such an incredibly beautiful day, so I pulled out the camera to capture a little of the extraordinary ordinary. The kids made Pizza Pockets for dinner (a crowd favorite and perfect for the weekend) and we headed out afterward in jammies and sweatshirts for a fire and s'mores. A good, good day.

P.S. October must be the perfect month for making videos. Here's the one I made last year.

No.452: What I Decluttered // October 2020

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Month #13 for my 1,000 Item Declutter Challenge! Here are the ground rules:

Only spend 10 minutes at one time and only in one specific area.
Monday through Wednesday, seek out items that we no longer need and make a pile. Then Thursday through Saturday, make a plan for how to deal with them. (This has worked so well and avoided that dreaded box of "what should I do with these?" items.)
Possible places to find new homes for items: Ebay/Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace, Trash Nothing website or the local Buy Nothing Facebook group and as a last resort, Goodwill

_____________________________________

This was a good month for the challenge! I'm on the home stretch, can allllmost see the end in sight and that is motivating me to keep going. This is also "birthday season" for us and with Christmas not too far away, I really want to make space for all of the new things the kids will be receiving.

WHAT I DECLUTTERED THIS MONTH

9 books.
One men's button-down shirt.
2 toddler coats, 2 shirts and a pair of snow boots. Slowly going through P's outgrown clothing from last year. These sold on ebay.
2 sweaters, one dress and 6 tops.
One Polish Pottery mug. This was a tall mug that I used to use as a pen holder, but it has been tucked away for years. The size is too awkward for drinking coffee, so I cleaned it up, listed it on ebay and it sold for over $9.
2 decorative plates and a fabric banner. Surprisingly sold on Poshmark!
2 baby fleece sleepers. I still have a small pile of baby clothes to go through (which are not my absolute favorites that I'll keep forever, ha!) and while these were a little hard to part with, I'm glad another little guy will be able to use them.
2 skincare samples.
3 bags of shredded paper.
One sham/pillowcase. Some of the boys have Ikea duvets on their beds. They don't use the matching sham/pillowcase and they've just been sitting in the linen closet. I decided to see if I could get a buyer on ebay...and I did! Sold for $4.
6 old workbooks and 2 magazines. Into the recycling bin.
2 DVDs.
One wallet and one makeup pouch.
One belt.
One teacher manual. I'm just about through all of my unneeded school books! Sold on ebay.
One Arc Paper Punch. A long time ago, I used the Arc notebook system (you know the one with the discs?) to make a type of DIY planner. It quickly became too much to keep up with, so I bought a cheap planner at the store and this paper punch sat in my closet ever since. It surprisingly sold within days on ebay for $25!
One vanity mirror. We replaced the mirror in Sophie's bathroom and gave the old one away via Trash Nothing.
One pair of sandals. D wore his Under Armor slides to shreds this summer! Into the trash can.
One broken fan and a broken soccer chair. Into the trash can.
One welcome mat.
A pillow, duvet cover and two shams.
One Halloween decoration.
One nursing tank. I've had this listed for almost a year(!!) and it finally sold on Poshmark.
7 pieces of Sophie's outgrown clothes.
3 light fixtures. After three years in this house, we're finally starting to replace the lighting with something a bit more our style. These fixtures are all in working condition so we donated them to our local Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

Items decluttered this month: 72
Money made this month: $140.59

Total items decluttered so far: 787

Total money made so far: $1,187.40

P.S. To "count," the item had to physically leave my house. So while I have listed a handful of things online, those aren't counted until they have sold.

No.451: Last Week at the Farmhouse // A Productive Fall Break & a New Quilt

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 12:15:00 +0000

Mark decided to take Tuesday through Friday off from work. Working 100% from home is a huge blessing, but it also comes with challenges and it's hard to make a clear line between work and home. He definitely needed the break. We have never taken a school "Fall Break" before, but a four-day staycation with our favorite person was enough to convince me. But don't think we spent an entire week just laying around!

While the kids were celebrating a vacation from math, Mark and I saw this break as a chance to catch up on life. A little deep cleaning and organizing and the perfect window of time to complete two big projects outside: making a firepit and prepping the outside perimeter of the garden for a cottage garden next spring. We had soil and gravel delivered and spent most mornings all working together to move it to its proper place. My shoulders are still sore from all the trips with the wheel barrow! We were finished by Friday afternoon (just in time for rainy weather to roll in) and celebrated with our first fire and s'mores. I still need to buy some Adirondack chairs to go around the firepit, but our outdoor deck chairs did the trick in the meantime. So fun.

I think I've mentioned here before that the quilt on my bed had gotten a few holes in it and I was on the search for a new one. I wanted a simple white quilt and that proved way harder to find than I expected! I finally found an option at Pottery Barn, but the price was a little steep. So I started browsing on ebay every few days and finally found the exact one for considerably cheaper! I also had some money in my Paypal account from selling a few things (thank you, 1000 Item Declutter Challenge) so the grand total was just around $50. It really pays to be patient and check often! Next up on the bedroom to-do list is a headboard. I enjoy the hunt.

After a productive week, I somehow came down with a sore throat and head cold and spent the weekend in bed. Not exactly how I planned to spend my birthday, but the kids were so sweet to me and spoiled me with their cards and gifts. I asked for and received new slippers and flannel pajamas - I'm a boring old lady and I don't care who knows it, ha! I am counting down the days until it's chilly enough to wear them. And praise be to God, that weekend rest did the trick and I'm already on the mend. Looking forward to the week ahead.

No.450: Five Good Things // No.03

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 10:00:00 +0000

This post contains affiliate links.

1 // A NEW PUZZLE
One good thing that has come from 2020 is our new love for family puzzles! We took a break through the summer, but I bought this United States of America puzzle from Mudpuppy to get us back into the habit. It is 1,000 pieces, very colorful and has lots of fun details. More importantly, the pieces are sturdy and uniquely cut...nothing is more frustrating than buying a cheap puzzle where every single piece is the same shape. You can find it on Amazon, sometimes your local bookstore (even through Bookshop!) or there's even a few on eBay too.

2 // A REUSABLE OPTION FOR LEFTOVER BITS AND PIECES
My older kids cook a lot of their own breakfasts and lunches (omelettes, stir frys, etc.) and we always seem to have sandwich baggies full of half-used onions or peppers in the fridge. I wanted a less wasteful option, so I found Stashers! They are reusable, silicone bags that are dishwasher safe and come in tons of sizes and colors. I bought mine from Freckled Hen Farmhouse, but you can find them on Amazon too.

3 // THIS INSTAGRAM POST FROM ROSIE

View this post on Instagram

🥖🏵️ Just over here trying to cultivate little pockets of beauty amidst the endless clutter. It's a never-ending struggle, the balance between trying to keep things relatively tidy and not stressing about the steady stream of messes generated by seven young souls. So I clear the island off for the thousandth time after it spent a season filled with tomatoes in rainbow shades of ripeness, and I fill it with fresh sourdough, garden blooms, and rising loaves. The loaves are in bellies and the island is full of crumbs, and we tidy again and thank God for the earthly beauty that gives us a glimpse of the eternal beauty for which we long 🏵️🥖

A post shared by Rosie Hill (@rosiehill425) on Sep 24, 2020 at 5:19am PDT

I've all but abandoned my public Instagram account, but hopped on recently to check on a notification. The first post I saw before closing out was Rosie's above...and can I just say, AMEN? In my almost 14 years of motherhood, I learned pretty quickly that if I wanted a houseful of children AND my sanity...well, a perfectly curated, always tidy home was out of the question for awhile. It's a special kind of "death to self", a forced (but necessary) lesson in letting go of control and perfection. Messes still drive me completely crazy, but I'm hoping they're sanctifying me a little bit too.

4 // A NEW WAY OF KEEPING TRACK OF ALL THE THINGS

I'm typically a planner girl, but this summer, I kept track of my to-do list with an old notepad that I used to sell back in the BWF days. I recently used the last page so I quickly purchased another weekly notepad (but in a new design!) from 1canoe2. They also sell this mint version, which is beautiful too.

5 // A NEW TO ME YOUTUBE CHANNEL

I somehow stumbled onto a Youtube channel called Megan Fox Unlocked, who is a young Mennonite wife and mother. Her video about Assumptions was so interesting to me and I learned a lot about her life and Mennonite beliefs. It made me wonder - what must people assume about ME? I'm not sure I'm brave enough to ask, ha!

No.449: Homemaking Notes on a Monday // Vol.04

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 10:00:00 +0000

This post contains affiliate links.

The weather outside is //

On the breakfast plate this morning // Like most mornings, I have oatmeal and a cup of coffee. I went a little overboard on caffeine this spring (like four big cups a day overboard), but have been working to reduce that significantly. I'm down to one morning cup and one in the afternoon. Baby steps.

As I look outside my window // I wish I could adequately describe how beautiful it is outside right now! We have a handful of different species of trees and they seem to stagger their color changing - first the gold/yellow, then the deep orange/red. I love it.

As I look around the house // my brain is bursting with ideas to make our home feeling a little more cozy. (This post started me down this road.) We could definitely use a few more blankets and I'm still on the hunt for a new living room rug. I may need to reread Homebody for inspiration again too.

In the garden // it's looking pretty bare. The summer crops and flowers have all been ripped out and while I started the fall planting with great enthusiasm...I've since fizzled out, ha. I still have lettuce, carrots and broccoli looking okay, but I'm not giving them nearly the same amount of love I did this spring.

On this week's to-do list //

get a good start on the Fall Cleaning Checklist
make leaf "mulch" for the garden beds
list five things on eBay
deep clean the kitchen
choose clothes so we can take family pictures (ourselves)

On the menu this week //

Monday: sheetpan sausage and veggies with rice
Tuesday: Taco Tuesday

Wednesday: white chicken chili

Thursday: slow cooker beef stroganoff and egg noodles

Friday: tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches

Currently reading // I'm returning to my love of pioneer fiction with The Diary of Mattie Spenser by Sandra Dallas. I've also started the Consecration to St. Joseph by Fr. Donald Calloway and Hungry Souls: Supernatural Visits, Messages, and Warnings from Purgatory by Gerard J.M. Van Den Aardweg.

What I'm creating at the moment // My Mother Culture assignment for October is to catch up on all.the.things, so I'm trying to do at least a few stitches on my scrap quilt every day. I'm not sure I'll finish the entire top this month, but I'm going to try!

New recipe I want to try this week // 100 Little Things task #6 is to make cinnamon rolls from scratch. This apple pie version looks like a fun twist.

No.448: Mother Culture Commonplace Book // September 2020

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 10:00:00 +0000

This post contains affiliate links.

"Mother Culture," an idea from Charlotte Mason and coined by Karen Andreola, simply encourages mothers to keep learning and growing, even while raising children. Andreola describes it this way:

Mother Culture® is a way-of-life, the skillful art of how a mother looks after the ways of her household. With a thinking-love she creates a culture in the home all her own. A mother does a lot of taking care, so she needs to take care of herself, too. Much depends on how she manages her life.

I resonate with this encouragement because it feels like I have someone in my corner, someone looking out for me as I do the hard work of motherhood. Taking the time to gain new knowledge/skills really fills my cup and I think my children notice. So with that in mind, I'm committing to my own set of monthly assignments this school year! September was a bit of a wash, but here's what I did:

✔ ASSIGNMENT #1: Start reading Home by Marilynne Robinson along with the Close Reads Podcast.
It's been a long time since I've deeply pondered a work of literature. Since I don't belong to a book club, I usually just read a book at face value and move on. Some effect me more deeply than others, but for the most part, I don't take the time to hash out overarching themes and word choices and other literary things. Reading Home along with the Close Reads Podcast has been a fun change of pace and I'm really enjoying it. I read ahead and finished the book, but these are the two episodes I've listened to so far:

✔ ASSIGNMENT #2: Research edible plants that grow in my area.

Native fruit and nut trees can be grown to produce food for people and/or wildlife while protecting soil, water and air quality. Because they are multifunctional, native fruit and nut trees and shrubs are prime candidates for agroforestry plantings and home landscaping.

I found a really cool resource from Virginia Tech describing some of the edible fruit and nut trees that grow in my area. There's everything from a black walnut tree to an Allegheny blackberry bramble to a pawpaw tree. I hope to take this knowledge and use it to purchase specific species of plants that will thrive here. Setting myself up for success!

✔ ASSIGNMENT #3: Buy the supplies needed to learn how to crochet.

Learning to crochet is something I have wanted to learn for years and years. To make things a little less overwhelming, I decided to break this task into tiny goals and this month was the easiest: buy some supplies. I have no idea if this yarn is appropriate or even any good, but the price was right and the colors were pretty.

And the two assignments I didn't get to:

✘ ASSIGNMENT #4: Discover and listen to another new musician.

✘ ASSIGNMENT #5: Learn about a new saint.

For October, I'm planning to circle back and finish the last two assignments. I also think I'll take this month to finish the top of my hand-sewed scrap quilt before starting in on crochet lessons. One thing at a time, right? So October: a month for finishing what I've started. Here we go!

No.447: My Latest Reads // September 2020

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 10:00:00 +0000

This post contains affiliate links.

P.S. I highly recommend Book Outlet! Use my link to receive $10 off your first order of $25 or more.

#64. ONE SECOND AFTER by William R. Forstchen || ★★☆☆☆

At the end of August, I went down a prepper Youtube rabbit hole and stumbled on a thing called an EMP, or an Electromagnetic Pulse. A commenter on the video mentioned this book and you know me - I'll read just about anything! The writing is not good, but the topic was a fascinating and frankly terrifying thought experiment. I pray it never really happens.

#65. GAINING GROUND: A STORY OF FARMERS' MARKETS, LOCAL FOOD, AND SAVING THE FAMILY FARM by Forrest Pritchard || ★★★★☆
Such an interesting and inspiring book about a farmer not too far from me. I came away equally inspired to move forward with our own farming plans as well as financially supporting the other farmers in our area.

#66. HOME by Marilynne Robinson || ★★★★☆
I read this along with the Close Reads Podcast and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. (My first experience with a Robinson novel was a flop.) Definitely slow-moving and sad/melancholy in tone, but also thought-provoking and surprisingly deep.

_________________________

MY READING IN NUMBERS FOR 2020

Books Read: 66
Pages Read: 18,783

Fiction: 37 // Non-Fiction: 29
Kindle Books: 26 // Paper Books: 40
20th Century in Books Challenge: 29/100
Original 2020 books "to-read" total on Goodreads: 414 // Current "to-read" total: 374
_________________________

No.446: Last Week at the Farmhouse // There Just Aren't Enough Hours in the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 10:00:00 +0000

This post contains affiliate links.

Well, this month was a blur. During Labor Day weekend, I made a long list of projects I wanted to accomplish in September and....well, not much of that happened, ha! Schooling obviously takes up more of my time and even six weeks in, I'm still figuring out how to fold extra tasks into the structure of my day. What would have taken me no time at all seems to take forever now! But it's all okay. They'll all get done eventually...deep breaths deep breaths.

Instead of dwelling on the negative, here are a few highlights from this month:

We had a great start to the school year. This doesn't always happen - on the first day of school last year, I sobbed and was convinced I had made a huge mistake! This time around, the kids are enjoying most of the books and curriculum choices, are working hard and producing great work. I couldn't ask for more.
We refinanced on the house for a much lower interest rate.
I finished out a very successful and fun first summer season in my garden. I learned so much and am anxious to tweak things and try again next spring.
I painted Sophie's bathroom and while we still need to buy a few things for the walls, I can happily say that we are finally 95% done with that project. Finally!!
We celebrated two birthdays and now have a new 6-year-old and a new 8-year-old.
I've been a decluttering fool whenever I have a few extra minutes. Really motivated to finish up the 1,000 Item Decluttering Challenge ASAP.

On my nightstand: I just finished Home by Marilynne Robinson and am almost done with The Hours of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Luisa Piccarreta. Next up is Versions of Us by Laura Barnett.

My organization project for the week was a unique one, but long overdue: I finally went through my TBR list on Goodreads and removed the books that no longer interest me. I've had a Goodreads account for almost 10 years now and wow, what a time capsule! Most of the books I removed were books that centered around parenting, family traditions, or cooking, all topics I was absorbing back in 2010 as I attempted to do this new motherhood thing well. I blinked and suddenly books on teenagers are more appropriate than the ones about sleep schedules. Time flies.

No.445: What I Decluttered // September 2020

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Month #12 for my 1,000 Item Declutter Challenge! Here are the ground rules:

Only spend 10 minutes at one time and only in one specific area.
Monday through Wednesday, seek out items that we no longer need and make a pile. Then Thursday through Saturday, make a plan for how to deal with them. (This has worked so well and avoided that dreaded box of "what should I do with these?" items.)
Possible places to find new homes for items: Ebay/Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace, Trash Nothing website or the local Buy Nothing Facebook group and as a last resort, Goodwill

One year of decluttering! I was really hoping to reach the 1,000 mark by this time, but honestly, over 700 items doesn't seem too shabby! In 365 days, I have removed tons of unneeded items from my home, but I've also learned so many important lessons along the way. (Another post for another day.) I'm motivated to keep going to the end - less than 300 items to go!

WHAT I DECLUTTERED THIS MONTH

13 books.
One Bowflex. The previous owners left this for us before they moved out. Three years later, it gets zero use and I have tried everything to get it out of the house. No one would even take it for free! After a lot of debate, we ultimately decided to dismantle the monstrosity and bring it to the dump to recycle the parts.
A set of five readers, a language arts book, two math manipulatives, a grammar teacher guide, and a geography teacher guide. I'm still having great luck selling unneeded homeschool curriculum. These all sold on ebay.
One old workbook. Into the recycling bin.
A car seat travel bag. I honestly was expecting this to sit awhile, but it sold in a matter of days on ebay! Somebody must be thinking about happier travel days ahead.
One blouse and one t-shirt. Both sold on ebay.
Two summer dresses and one pencil skirt. Both sold on Poshmark.
One fleece jacket.
One bag of shredded paper.
4 pairs of fall/winter pajamas. My girl is growing like a weed, so I listed four of last year's PJs on Trash Nothing. I connected with a sweet grandmother who is helping with her granddaughter's care and schooling this year.
5 reclaimed wood wall arrows. I had these arrows in my master bedroom at my old house to represent my (then) five kids. New house, one more baby and an out-of-business company and it's time to let someone else enjoy them.
One pair of winter gloves and a pair of leggings. More things that Sophie has outgrown. Sold on ebay.
4 burp cloths.
4 of P's outgrown tops. Mailed to a cousin.
One coffee mug.
One eye shadow palette. I had a palette that only had colors left that I never use and is definitely over a year old, so into the trashcan it went.

Items decluttered this month: 54
Money made this month: $222.12

Total items decluttered so far: 715

Total money made so far: $1,046.81

P.S. To "count," the item had to physically leave my house. So while I have listed a handful of things online, those aren't counted until they have sold.

No.444: Last Week at the Farmhouse // More Organization Projects

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 10:00:00 +0000

This post contains affiliate links.

More organization projects this week! We took advantage of a Labor Day sale to buy a storage solution for my daughter's closet. It's definitely not a high-quality piece of furniture, but at least she now has a spot for her books and toys. The other project was for my growing collection of seed packets! Multiple gardeners use these plastic photo keepers and I loved the idea, but didn't want to pay the price. Amazingly, I found a used option on eBay and I won the auction for $1!

Finished this week: Gaining Ground: A Story of Farmers' Markets, Local Food, and Saving the Family Farm by Forrest Pritchard. Loved it.

On the financial front, we crossed off 100 Little Things #2 and closed on our refinance on Wednesday. The much lower interest rate will certainly help in a lot of ways, but we're most excited for the extra push toward completing Baby Step #3 (six months worth of expenses into savings.)

My brain feels so full lately and while it's not necessarily stressful, it does exhaust me by bedtime. I am sleeping so, so soundly these days! Just a few of things I'm thinking about:

+ Fruit tree guilds // My little apple orchard is going to get an upgrade!

+ Cottage gardens // I'm excited to incorporate this idea along the outside perimeter of my garden. Started my very first steps with a fig tree and a little rose bush that was on clearance at Home Depot.

+ Building a permanent chicken area using tips from Justin Rhodes' system

+ A new white quilt/bedspread as ours is literally starting to fall apart // I went to straighten it on the bed one day and my fingers went right through! It sure has taken a beating from six years of constant use and hundreds and hundreds of washings.

+ Birthday presents for the kids and our yearly traditions // The first two are just a week away!

No.443: Last Week at the Farmhouse // Egyptians, A New Bathroom & So Much Rain

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 13:49:00 +0000

This post contains affiliate links.

The bathroom tiling is done! I am so pleased with the workmanship and attention to detail; it looks awesome. Now for my part - the painting!

My home project for the week was organizing our medicine cabinet. Cooler weather is on its way, so I've been restocking our cough drops and cold medicines. In between school and all of the other tasks of the day, I took a few minutes to organize everything into inexpensive bins...and even added labels. Who even am I right now? P.S. Don't look too closely at the rest of the house - it's not nearly as tidy.

I spent hours on Saturday working in and around the garden, pulling out more of the summer garden, amending soil and planting more of the fall seeds. We had heavy rainfall early in the week and it completely wiped out some of my more tender seedlings, so I'm trying again! I also started laying cardboard around the outside perimeter to kill the grass and get ready for topsoil. I've got big plans for a cottage flower garden look next spring.

School highlights:
+ We're learning about Egyptians in history and this week's topics were hieroglyphics and mummies. Nile project update: the grass grew!
+ My 8th grader is following Mater Amabilis' Twentieth Century History plan this year and really enjoying it. I like that they've included a wide variety of sources to tell the story of the time period (like first person narratives.)

No.442: Mother Culture // September 2020

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 10:00:00 +0000

A new month and five new assignments! Here's what I've chosen for September:

Mother Culture Assignments for September 2020

⬜ ASSIGNMENT #1: Start reading Home by Marilynne Robinson along with the Close Reads Podcast.

⬜ ASSIGNMENT #2: Research edible plants that grow in my area.

⬜ ASSIGNMENT #3: Buy the supplies needed to learn how to crochet.

⬜ ASSIGNMENT #4: Discover and listen to another new musician.

⬜ ASSIGNMENT #5: Learn about a new saint.

I'll be back with a post about what I've learned on the last Wednesday of the month. Feel free to join in with any or all of the assignments or even create your own! Let's all seek the beautiful and good together.

No.441: Last Week at the Farmhouse // Plants Make Me Ridiculously Happy

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 10:00:00 +0000

This post contains affiliate links.

The biggest news of the week is that Sophia's bathroom remodel is underway. We hired out for the demo and tiling (a friend of Mark's is a contractor) and I'm so glad we did. What would have taken us forever, they knocked out in just a few days. We will still have to paint and do a few more cosmetic-type things, but I'm so, so excited to have that room functional again.

I went on a quick date with Mark to Home Depot to pick up grout and came home with $20 worth of houseplants. The way to my heart isn't through fancy jewelry or handbags, but definitely plants, ha! I picked out a big dieffenbachia, which turned out to be poisonous for dogs so now lives in my bedroom (where Lucy's not allowed). I also got a pothos for the bathroom.

I started pulling out some of the summer garden and the spent wildflowers in the front beds - bittersweet, but also deeply satisfying. I have learned SO much this year and am already planning what I'm going to do differently next year.

School highlights:

+ In order to keep the kids away from the construction, I brought out one of my secret weapons: a bag of balloons. Good for everything from a science demonstration to PE class! I blew up a handful and the little ones were happy in the basement for over half an hour, creating all kinds of games. We had our share of popped balloons along the way, but definitely still worth the $2.

+ I'm really liking our new elementary science curriculum so far: Elemental Science's "Earth Science & Astronomy for the Grammar Stage" curriculum. This week, we finished a paper mache Earth model (after learning about the continents) and did an experiment about currents.
+ After a few years away, we're back with Story of the World for elementary level history. The kids made a model of the Nile, following the directions from the Activity Book. Can't wait to see the grass grow in the next few weeks!

No.440: Mother Culture Commonplace Book // August 2020

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 10:00:00 +0000

This post contains affiliate links.

"Mother Culture," an idea from Charlotte Mason and coined by Karen Andreola, simply encourages mothers to keep learning and growing, even while raising children. Andreola describes it this way:

Mother Culture® is a way-of-life, the skillful art of how a mother looks after the ways of her household. With a thinking-love she creates a culture in the home all her own. A mother does a lot of taking care, so she needs to take care of herself, too. Much depends on how she manages her life.

✔ ASSIGNMENT #1: Crack open a classic novel.
Back in 2019, I started reading The Well-Educated Mind and was so pumped to start the "The Story of People: Reading through History with the Novel" reading list. I ordered a beautiful hardcover copy of the first book, Don Quixote, aaaand...read the first few chapters and put it away, ha! In August, I decided to tackle it again. This book is a brick (over 800 pages!), so I gave myself the goal of reading just 50 pages for the whole month. Sounded easy enough! As of this writing, I'm on page 87, so about 10% finished. I definitely don't find it a page turner, but it is a good one for reading a chapter or two a day. I actually think the writing is somewhat humorous! Who knew?

✔ ASSIGNMENT #2: Discover and listen to a new type of music.
I popped around the Internet for some inspiration on this one and ran into Mildred Bailey, a Native American jazz singer during the 1930s. A few fun facts about Mildred:

She grew up in Washington, but often visited relatives on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation in Idaho, where her mother was an enrolled member. (Her mother was also a devout Catholic.)
She was known as "The Queen of Swing" and "The Rockin' Chair Lady."
This little tidbit made my smile: "Whatever the reasons may have been, superstardom eluded Bailey. The singer blamed her plumpness for her lack of commercial success, while others suggested that it was really Bailey's temper and sharp tongue that were her undoing. There's plenty of evidence that Bailey felt especially bitter towards better-looking female vocalists, many of whom she felt lacked her talent. Throughout her life, Bailey blamed her obesity on a glandular condition, although many of her friends attributed it instead to her great love of food."
She suffered from diabetes and died of a heart attack at only 44 years old.
She had many popular songs, including "Rocking Chair" and "Thanks for the Memory", but I loved (and could relate to!) another of hers called "It's So Peaceful in the Country". All three songs are below!

✔ ASSIGNMENT #3: Read and reflect on one poem.

For this one, I pulled out a beautiful old book from 1957 called Favorite Poems Old and New: Selected for Boys and Girls by Helen Ferris. This is the poem I chose for August:

"Leisure"

by William H. Davies

What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare?

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,

And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

Fun fact: W.H. Davies was a Welsh poet who spent a significant part of his life as a hobo.

✔ ASSIGNMENT #4: Learn something interesting about nature.

I went back to The Lost Art of Reading Nature's Signs and was excited to discover that I was on the chapter about stars. Reading the sky is interesting to me but I have very little experience. One fun fact that I learned:

It is commonly believed that the North Star is the brightest in the night sky, however it's actually neither very bright not very dull... if you see a very bright white object shining more brilliantly than anything else in the night sky, it is very likely to be the planets, Venus or Jupiter, or the brightest star, Sirius, but it will definitely not be the North Star. (p.152)

✔ ASSIGNMENT #5: Memorize something: a prayer, a poem, or the lyrics to a song.
We've been attending the Latin Mass and the chanters have been singing the Salve Regina after Holy Communion. I knew parts of the song, but never the whole thing, so in August, I practiced! This video was helpful.

Salve Regina

Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiæ,

vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.

Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevæ,

Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes

in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos

misericordes oculos ad nos converte;

Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,

nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.

O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.

No.439: My Latest Reads // August 2020

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 10:00:00 +0000

This post contains affiliate links.

P.S. I highly recommend Book Outlet! Use my link to receive $10 off your first order of $25 or more.

#60. EUCHARISTIC MIRACLES AND EUCHARISTIC PHENOMENA IN THE LIVES OF THE SAINTS by Joan Carroll Cruz || ★★★★☆

Simply written and packed with facts, I really enjoyed this book about Eucharistic miracles throughout the ages. I often found myself Googling the miracle after reading it, so I could see the pictures up close. (The next best thing to going to visit on pilgrimage, I guess!) The faith of the people throughout history was greatly inspiring to me and I know I experience the Mass in a deeper way because of their example. (This was also my 1991 pick for the 20th Century Reading Challenge.)

#61. MADE FROM SCRATCH: DISCOVERING THE PLEASURES OF A HANDMADE LIFE by Jenna Woginrich || ★★★★☆

This is the kind of book I wish I had read back when I lived in suburbia and was dreaming about acreage. Very much an encouraging, "start where you are" story that is a mix of memoir and helpful beginner's tips. 3.5 stars, rounded up.

#62. FOLLOW THE RIVER by James Alexander Thom || ★★★☆☆

I'm not sure what I was expecting going into this book - maybe a cozy little historical based in the mid-18th century? Oh no no. This book was intense! The story was compelling, but the gruesome and violent parts were hard to read.

#63. THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW by A.J. Finn || ★★★☆☆

This thriller/suspense novel about a woman struggling with agoraphobia was definitely a page turner. I predicted most of the twists but there were a few surprises there too.

_________________________

MY READING IN NUMBERS FOR 2020

Books Read: 63
Pages Read: 17,760

Fiction: 35 // Non-Fiction: 28
Kindle Books: 25 // Paper Books: 38
20th Century in Books Challenge: 29/100
Original 2020 books "to-read" total on Goodreads: 414 // Current "to-read" total: 398 (I'm in the 300s!!)
_________________________

No.438: Last Week at the Farmhouse // A New School Year Begins!

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 10:00:00 +0000

This post contains affiliate links.

The first week of school is done and it actually went better than expected! In seven years of homeschooling, I've learned that the best thing you can do right off the bat is to find that routine, that steady flow of the day. When the kids know what to expect and what is expected of them, when I can get even a tiny grasp on chores and other responsibilities...the days then become smooth and productive. There will always be hiccups and small changes (life!) but the general routine is what keeps homeschooling from feeling like total chaos.

Recording what is working so far, for posterity's sake:

I rise around 6-6:30, drink my coffee, read my Bible, start a load of laundry and get the dough going in the bread machine. Then I hop in the shower, dress and eat breakfast. During this time, the kids trickle downstairs, eat breakfast, get dressed, and sometimes watch a cartoon.
At 8:30, we all meet together in the kitchen to divvy up the day's chores from The Confident Mom's Household Planner.
At around 8:50, I have a mini meeting with my two middle school boys, go over the assignments/reading of the day and then send them off! They pick different quiet places throughout the house and will typically sprawl out while reading and head to a table for written work.
At 9:00, we do kindergarten! We start with TJ because he will otherwise relentlessly bug me for his turn. This is the time we work on his math, letters and read aloud.
I take a quick break to switch laundry and put bread dough in pans for their second rise.
At around 9:15, my elementary students (K, 2nd & 4th) all meet at the school table for our group subjects like science, history, art and geography. We do these altogether and just toggle the amount of work depending on grade.
I take another quick break to switch laundry again, put bread in the oven to bake for lunch and check in on big boys.
At around 10:15, we split up. My 2nd and 4th graders do their math on the computer with Teaching Textbooks, so while one is on math, I work on the individual subjects of the other, like language arts. With Mark home full time right now, he's taking on their catechism and they love that special one-on-one time with him.
This takes us to about lunchtime and we break from 12-1. This used to be our household quiet time but now that my kids are older, we just kind of hang out and relax. It's like a midday siesta minus the nap. (Although I sometimes could go for one, ha!)
After 1:00, we finish up any work we haven't completed yet. If they work diligently and we don't have any big projects, we easily can be done by early afternoon. Sometimes we get in the kitchen and bake something at this time, or they play, draw, play guitar, get outside, etc. On Fridays, we take a nature study hike through our back woods.

100 Little Things Update: I checked off the first two tasks on my new list!
+ Get Lucy a new dog bed. (#57) - This technically breaks goal #100, but I found a reasonably priced dog bed and it was a Lightning Deal too! Lucy cuddled right in, so I'm calling it a success.
+ Buy myself a pair of snow pants. (#79) - This one is random for late August, but my thinking is that I would pay less if I bought now versus later in the fall. I ended up finding a secondhand pair, like new, for only $9!

On the Nightstand: I just finished The Woman at the Window by A.J. Finn. Still working through Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola, Gaining Ground by Forrest Pritchard and Saint John Paul the Great: His Five Loves by Jason Evert.

Recipe of the week, A is for Applesauce Muffins:

Applesauce Muffins
adapted from Mom to Mom Nutrition

2 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 egg
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat the oven to 375. Combine the dry ingredients together in one bowl and the wet ingredients in another. Add the wet to the dry and stir until combined. Scoop into muffin tins and bake for 20 minutes.

No.437: Last Week at the Farmhouse // A Flat Tire & the Last Days of Summer Break

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 10:00:00 +0000

This post contains affiliate links.

What a week! It started with a flat tire. Simple enough to deal with, right? Oh man, it turned into a fiasco. We tried to remove the tire so we could put on the spare and drive to the mechanic, but it would.not.budge. For two days, we tried everything, bought a few supplies to lift the SUV better, watched all the tips and tricks on Youtube, but to no avail. We ended up calling a tow truck (to the tune of $100) and having to replace the one tire since it was too big of a hole to patch. Since we were at the mechanic anyway, we decided to get Mark's car inspected and were told that he needed all new brake pads to pass. Later in the week, I checked our propane levels on a whim, only to discover that it was muuuuch lower than we thought and had to quickly make an appointment to fill the tank. Money's just flying out the window at this point.

Other than that, it was a flurry of final school planning and project finishing as we prepare for our school year to begin on August 17. The kids won't admit it, but I think we're all ready for a little more structure in our days. I'm especially praying for a smooth transition as we begin - I've got five students, from 8th all the way down to K this year!

I'm always on a mission to prolong the lifespan of our clothing, so I've been doing a little mothproofing research. (This article from Martha Stewart was helpful.) I'm still on the lookout for hanging red cedar boards, but I did manage to find an etsy shop that sells lavender sachets to add to my closet. Reasonably priced, cute fabrics and a wonderful seller. Highly recommend.

On the nightstand: Follow the River by James Alexander Thom, Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola and Gaining Ground by Forrest Pritchard. My reading has slowed way down these past few weeks as I can only read a few pages at bedtime before I start nodding off.

For this week's baking day, I made a new batch of granola and two loaves of banana bread. Tried and true, this is our favorite recipe:

Banana Bread

1 cup sugar
½ cup oil (sometimes I use coconut oil, sometimes unsweetened applesauce)
2 eggs
3 very ripe bananas

2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
(you could also add in a cup of chopped nuts too)

Preheat the oven to 375°. Butter the inside of a loaf pan and set aside.
Add all of the ingredients one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
Pour into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 45-50 minutes. I typically bake mine for 45 minutes and then tent with foil for the last 5-10.

No.436: 2020 Gratitude // 33

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 10:00:00 +0000

This week's gratitude comes from part of a newsletter I received from Naomi Bulger. While this is her take on home comforts, I was really inspired by her choices and hope to intentionally notice and create more of this in my own home. I think it will be especially important going into the fall and winter. Here are her words:

"Home comforts” is a funny term these days, isn’t it. On the one hand, it feels like a warm hug. When you mention “home comforts” to me, I think of the kettle singing on the stovetop. Of the small stack of books on my bedside table with the corners turned down half way through. Or sitting under a colourful woolen rug, stroking our pet rabbit’s ears and watching Netflix while editing photographs on my ‘phone. There is a corner of our old sofa that is my corner of our old sofa, with a sag in the cushion that is just the right shape for my bottom.

Home comforts are the things we return to after long journeys: everything is where it should be in the kitchen (no hunting around a million cupboards looking for a cereal bowl), the right brand of cheese is in the ‘fridge, and the herbs on the window sill are the ones you chose, because they are the ones you like best to eat. It’s your favourite pillow and freshly laundered sheets on the bed, or spending an entire day cooking up a feast, for no reason other than that you want to.

Home comforts are safe, familiar and, well, they deliver on the promise of the tin. Home comforts are comfortable.

P.S. Naomi's newsletter is one of my favorites and is always full of inspiring and helpful content.

The Big White Farmhouse

No.460: The Wednesday Five #13

A QUOTE

TWO SOUPS FOR CHILLY DAYS

A RECOMMENDATION

THREE BOOKS ON MY NIGHTSTAND

Fiction: My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok Religious: Inside the Light by Sr. Angela de Fatima CoelhoNonfiction: The Parasitic Mind by Gad Saad

A MOMENT OF HAPPINESS

No.459: What I Decluttered // November 2020

WHAT I DECLUTTERED THIS MONTH

No.458: Five Good Things // No.04

No.457: Homemaking Notes on a Monday // Vol.05

No.456: Ordinary Days

No.455: My Latest Reads // October 2020

No.454: Combating a Crazy World with a Cozy Home

PLANTS EVERYWHERE!

LIVING ROOM

MASTER BEDROOM

No.453: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Life // October 2020

No.452: What I Decluttered // October 2020

WHAT I DECLUTTERED THIS MONTH

No.451: Last Week at the Farmhouse // A Productive Fall Break & a New Quilt

No.450: Five Good Things // No.03

No.449: Homemaking Notes on a Monday // Vol.04

No.448: Mother Culture Commonplace Book // September 2020

No.447: My Latest Reads // September 2020

No.446: Last Week at the Farmhouse // There Just Aren't Enough Hours in the Day

No.445: What I Decluttered // September 2020

WHAT I DECLUTTERED THIS MONTH

No.444: Last Week at the Farmhouse // More Organization Projects

No.443: Last Week at the Farmhouse // Egyptians, A New Bathroom & So Much Rain

No.442: Mother Culture // September 2020

Mother Culture Assignments for September 2020

No.441: Last Week at the Farmhouse // Plants Make Me Ridiculously Happy

No.440: Mother Culture Commonplace Book // August 2020

Salve Regina

No.439: My Latest Reads // August 2020

No.438: Last Week at the Farmhouse // A New School Year Begins!

No.437: Last Week at the Farmhouse // A Flat Tire & the Last Days of Summer Break

No.436: 2020 Gratitude // 33

Fiction: My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok
Religious: Inside the Light by Sr. Angela de Fatima Coelho
Nonfiction: The Parasitic Mind by Gad Saad