Willows Edge Farm

Tire Safety on the Road

2012-01-30T19:57:00.000-05:00

We've heard from many, many full timers about all sorts of tire failures and the problems then related. After almost 8 months on the road, we had our turn. Didn't even know we had a tire failure until we pulled into our camping spot for the night. Here's another view: Once again, we are in total awe of God's grace. Our fully loaded camper ran on one tire, while the other left

Sesame Honey Candies

2012-01-27T05:46:00.005-05:00

As I sit here typing, I'm having to lick the yummy sweetness from the Sesame Honey Candies I just made, off my fingers! OK, if you want a health, nutritious and WAY YUMMY snack, this is about as easy as it gets. Originally from Greece, these tasty little pieces of heaven have always been a favorite of my kids. Now we are going to be making them regularly. In addition to the yum factor, these

Planning Your Road Trip

2012-01-21T09:07:00.001-05:00

Since we've had so many people email us over the last 7 months with the comment of "You're living my dream", we thought it would be beneficial for many to share those things we've learned the hard way... CAMPING CLUBS AND MEMBERSHIPS - If you really want to save money, buy a camping membership. Of course you need to look at their locations to make sure you will be in those areas, but for us,

Free Toliet Paper

2012-01-19T14:06:00.000-05:00

It's one of those things that people don't really discuss. We all go, so let's have a conversation about what we use and why. And how to stop flushing money down the toilet. :) We come from the farm with a septic tank, so we've always been tried to be careful with what we put in our septic tank. Well, campers have tanks and they are pretty delicate as well, so here we can talk frankly about "

26 Days of Homelessness

2012-01-10T12:06:00.001-05:00

Not homeless in the truest definition of the word, but we spent 26 days on the road without "our home". We decided to go home to surprise our oldest and grandma for Christmas but we had a couple reasons for leaving our camper in Texas while we drove back to WA. First, we were offered a free campground space with electricity for a month. Whoohoo! Second reason - we really weren't sure if the

Bridgeport, Texas

2012-01-03T16:58:00.000-05:00

Where the cactus outnumber the residents. Boy is it ever dry here... but boy, did we ever enjoy Texas hospitality. The people of Texas are amazingly kind and warm hearted. Not sure what else we expected, but that was what we got.

Starting the New Year with Better Health

2011-12-30T14:32:00.000-05:00

Yes, it's that time of year again for many and I have to say that this year I got this FABULOUS book on health and nutrition. It's full of wisdom that bucks what the "popular" trend may be. It goes to real facts about our food and looks at people from around the world. It is Nourishing Traditions and you can check it out here: Money VERY well spent and you will be so excited to try some new

Homeschooling Progress

2011-12-22T18:51:00.000-05:00

Each and every child has their own gifts and our youngest has a talent for writing. Only in 2nd grade, his cursive writing is far nicer than many adults. And some are just easier to teach than others ... E will do his school work anywhere. For anyone interested, we use Abeka curriculum. They start kids writing in cursive from the beginning. Just like children have an easier time learning

Christmas at Universal Studios Orlando

2011-12-20T16:14:00.000-05:00

While not overly impressed with Universal Studios in Orlando (we've seen the original in CA and love it), this was a fun moment for us to see our first Christmas show of the year. Which is your favorite Christmas show that you can't live without?

Traveling Really Wears You Out

2011-12-17T05:30:00.000-05:00

E's not doing to bad, but poor little Abby, the Wonder Dog, is just exhausted. It was just too cute of a photo not to share. Blessings all!

Stick Bugs

2011-12-14T14:11:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you just have to find the simple things in life to really entertain you. Farmer Scott, as a child, used to have stick bugs that he would tie to his bed and they would eat the mosquitoes at night protecting him. Yep. That's my kind of entertainment.

Country Living Expo & Cattlemen’s Winterschool

2011-12-09T20:45:00.000-05:00

Washington residents (and others willing to travel) ... this is one of those well kept secrets. We tried to go for a few years and finally, last year, we finally were able to attend. I just got this notice and thought I would pass it along. It's looking like some particularly interesting classes are being offered this year. Notice the price for the youth as well - bring the older kids and let

Route 66 and Cars…the Movie

2011-12-07T23:06:00.000-05:00

Life Is a Highway Route 66. We've all heard of it, but our family actually got to enjoy it. Whoohoo!! What a beautiful, yet very small, part of the country. “Standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona, such a fine sight to see…” the song goes. Well, we had a fun stop in Winslow, Az overnight. Overnight because we were driving through in the darkness and there was just no way we could go

Simple Things for Simple Minds

2011-12-06T16:13:00.000-05:00

I’ll be the first to admit it: there are days that I’m about as simple as it gets. Take for example our brief stop at a rest area along the freeway. This wasn’t just any rest stop though, it was a Texas Rest Area. Texas sized. Even a large, newer playground (with a fabulously soft, foamish type footing) for the kids. Yes, really. See: Gorgeous architecture. Even more so for a rest

Computer Malfunctions

2011-12-04T12:50:00.000-05:00

Computer malfunction via the 12 year old using it as a seat cushion ... Not being the computer guru, I took it in to Best Buy for their "Geek Squad" service as they are a national company. They can do the repairs but the laptop has to be shipped back to the same store you drop it off at. 2-3 weeks out. Hmmm, well that won't work. Any thoughts? And no, I've already decided against the boat

A homemade Christmas wreath

2011-11-30T08:29:00.000-05:00

Last year after Christmas I decided I wanted a bigger wreath ... and then I saw their price tags- OUCH! I am by NO means Martha Stewart, but this seemed simple enough to make a bigger wreath for our entry way. Ended up finding things on sale and clearance and here is what I made: I wish the lights would have shown up better, but here it is. I thought I would share some of my process and you

Attention Walmart Shoppers

2011-11-27T14:07:00.000-05:00

While you are out Christmas shopping this weekend, I thought I would give you something to giggle about. Never thought I'd see this in a Walmart. Truly a Walmart special...If you can't read those bags, they are chicken scratch and cracked corn. Too funny! And yes, we did see people with those bags in their carts.

Leftover Turkey Stuffing Cups

2011-11-26T04:50:00.000-05:00

Leftovers. I always try to do something a little different with leftovers but nothing I can think of is quite so simple as well as so much fun as turkey stuffing cups. I wish I had a photo of them, but being on the road, not only do we not have leftovers, I don't have any photos of last years dinner! Hopefully, you can imagine what these look like as I give you some directions. These

Limted Time Offer for List Plan It

2011-11-22T11:17:00.000-05:00

For a very limited time - haven't been told how long - List Plan It is offering a Thanksgiving special of 25% off for their memberships! I just upgraded today!! Go to List Plan It! for more information. Don't forget to type in Thanks25 at checkout to get your discount.

Campground Fires and the Kids Who Enjoy Them

2011-11-21T12:01:00.000-05:00

D learned about building fires and here is his first campfire he built all by himself. Way to go boy scout!!

Thanksgiving Dinner Hints and Helpers

2011-11-19T13:20:00.000-05:00

As promised, here is the Thanksgiving Dinner Hints and Helpers Let me start with this: Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful. And to have fun. Don't make it into something stressful and crazy because that is what your neighbor, church elder, PTA leader or anyone else is. Be joyful and your food will be all the better for it. I promise! Some of these are partial recipes,

Home Improvements on the Road

2011-11-19T08:05:00.000-05:00

We've had our fair share of little things go wrong, but this was a fun project ... more storage and organization. Here's a handy dandy gadget every full timer will love: an under table drawer. Farmer Scott being hand in the RV Doesn't interfere at all with leg room or useability. We got ours at Camping World and it was $19.99. Our new, extra drawer Since we use the table more for school

Happy Birthday, Chelsea

2011-11-17T05:13:00.003-05:00

My oldest turns 19 today. I have no idea where the time went, how she grew up so quickly, or how she became quite so beautiful. Every moment with you is precious and every day away from you seems like a lifetime. We love you, Miss Chelsea. May God continue to bless your days.

On Safari in South Carolina

2011-11-16T12:34:00.005-05:00

No, not an actual safari, but walking the trails around Hilton Head, South Carolina, it really did feel like we were walking through some tropical jungle somewhere. In reality, we were minutes from the Atlantic Ocean and many, many high end homes. It was a gorgeous day and time for a final taste of the Atlantic Ocean for the year. For a little dog, Miss Abby the Wonder Dog, sure loves the

Finances on the Road

2011-11-14T08:56:00.001-05:00

The number one question we are asked is, "How do you make it financially?" So, I thought I would share a little bit about The Numbers. We've always been pretty frugal folks. We have saved a lot so that certainly has helped in this adventure keep rolling down the road - literally. We have a buffer so when little things happen - such as putting gas in the diesel engine and giving us a $1200 repair