By Athalia Critcher

Previously, I shared how our Christmas preparations began in July. When we were making jam, I initially planned to also make mini loaves when the holidays arrived. The jam would be marvelous spread on tea biscuits or sour dough or even hearty whole grain bread, but with so many food sensitivities and different dietary needs, I decided not to bake.  Instead, we went another homemade route and picked up wooden, die-cut ornaments, then pulled out our paint tray and set to work. I say “we,” but the ornaments were all hand-painted by our wee preschooler.

As I try to keep pace with my little blue-eyed girl, I myself learn something new everyday. A few months back, I adopted a preschool-based schedule to set pace of our days. On the days when we are home together, I conduct “Mommy School.” Her imagination and physical dexterity has rendered her capable of creating complex games and plot-driven, imaginary play, but my gal stills needs her mommy to set the pace and help her transition from structured activity to free play to snack time and back again. Our structured activities revolve around either an art or craft project or learning a new skill or concept, such as counting and measuring, telling time, or exploring the seasons through a scavenger hunt.

Without a doubt, our favorite craft this fall was making Christmas ornaments for holiday gifts. Using simple watercolor paints and an oversized brush, my gal mixed and blended colors for one-of-a-kind creations. While she painted, we used the time to talk about friends and family, holiday traditions, and the shapes that the different wooden, laser cut ornaments represent.  I know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and so perhaps I see them through a mother’s eyes, but the water color splashes from her brush created lovely and unique works of art. I am so proud of her, and I cannot wait to share these sweet tokens of friendship.

How to:

Prepare a work station at a comfortable height for little artists. Cover surface with newspaper to protect surfaces from stray paint. Consider using a jelly roll pan, cookie sheet, or plastic cutting board to create a waterproof barrier. Set out paints and drip a little water into each color to moisten. (Hint: I permanently remove the brown and black paints from the tray, since I dislike how they blend over the other colors.) Hand the brush over to the young artist, step back and cheer them on. This is a great craft to encourage artistic freedom and expression.

Ornament Supplies:

Non-toxic, watercolor paints 

1 inch bristle brush (the larger size is easier for small hands; found at a hardware or specialty paint stores)

Craft-ready, laser cut, wooden ornaments (ours came from Michael’s)

Newspaper (or other material to protect table surface)

Small cup of water (to rinse brush and wet paints)

Athalia Critcher is a southern girl who married a mountain man and now calls the Blue Ridge Mountains home. She holds down the fort and writes about her misadventures in their small mountain community at LittleCreekLife.com

by Athalia Critcher

Christmas began in July this year. No, really, it did. I was motivated by that certain day in mid-November on which I check my Christmas list and realize that I would very much like to have a small gift for my husband’s team at the office and have not yet planned what that might be. Each year, on this day, I go through a domino of emotions: first there is excitement and joy, because his team is a group of wonderful people who cares for one another, and for whom we have, not only a deep gratitude, but also strong affection and high regard. I am also excited because, honestly, I always get excited about giving gifts. The emotion that follows the joy and excitement is panic, because I realize that there are so few days left in the season, and I have no idea how or where to even begin planning a gift that would convey our heart for this group of thirty folks and their families. At this point, just about anything would add stress to the already time-strapped holidays and an already maxed-out holiday budget. The last domino falls, and I feel disappointed and sad.

That is why Christmas started this year in July, in the peak of berry season. For weeks on end, our house smelled of sticky, sweet strawberries and blackberries, as I brewed jar after jar of jam. The lovely deep red jars cooling on the countertop, and the anticipation of sharing it filled our home with a festive mood. Each time I bought a large flat of very ripe berries, my thoughts were with my husband’s team at work, and my prayers followed their projects and the challenges.

It was my first time making jam, and it easier than I imagined.

Using Alice Currah’s recipe from Savory Sweet Life for Easy Strawberry Balsamic Jam, I adjusted the ratios to taste and added a waterbath canning step to permanently seal the jars.    Canning jars are usually stocked in groceries and garden stores by mid-summmer. There are usually coupons to be had, both in the papers as well as those nifty “Save Now” coupons glued to the dozen jars themselves. Four or six ounce jars are nice sizes for putting up jam. Perhaps any balsamic would have done justice to this recipe, but we are hooked on an Espresso Balsamic from The Art of Oil, a fabulous vinegar and oil supplier here in our little town.  Since I was cooking in bulk, I purchased both the strawberries and the sugar in bulk. I ordered me a 25 lb bag of raw sugar through my local grocery, and I bought the berries in large two pound flats. Were I wise, I would have also bought a candy thermometer to properly gauge our high-altitude gelling temperature. Instead, I discovered that meat thermometers do not measure above 200 F and settled on each batch having its own unique personality and consistency. Some of the jars will be lovely drizzled over a scoop of vanilla ice cream; other jars will spread nicely on toast.

What a joy to celebrate Christmas all year long!

Athalia Critcher is a southern girl who married a mountain man and now calls the Blue Ridge Mountains home. She holds down the fort and writes about her misadventures in their small mountain community at LittleCreekLife.com.

By Amanda Cotrell

When we were first married, I was so excited to celebrate our first Christmas together.  Christmas was extra special because that was the night he proposed and I wanted to build upon that special memory.  We were both raised in homes where Christmas was kept as a day for celebrating our Savior and expenses were kept low.  Dad always chopped down one of the pine trees on the property and Grandmother and Grandma made beautiful handmade Christmas ornaments.  With all of these things in mind, we embarked on our “Christmas Creation Journey.”

Our first Christmas tree was about two feet tall and held very few ornaments.  We lived in a small apartment in California and would be going back to the East Coast for Christmas so we didn’t want to decorate too lavishly.  Once we moved back to North Carolina, we continued to use the tiny Christmas tree because we were moving to our new home just before New Year’s and we would be spending Christmas in New Jersey.  On the day after Christmas, we found a brand new artificial pre-lit tree for $35 at Goodwill!  We picked up a few ornaments and plastic containers at a big discount from Target, as well.   We had many white twinkle lights leftover from our wedding a few years back (which I purchased the day after Christmas – six months before the wedding) and my husband likes to hang them on the fencepost.  So, when you’re just starting out and you’re not one of those lucky people who have a Christmas wedding shower, it’s important to look for frugal finds so that you don’t break the bank with just decorating your home for this special season.

Another way we save money is to draw names on my side of the family and set a limit of $30.  On my husband’s side of the family, I purchase gifts for the nieces and nephews shortly after Christmas and save them for the next year, which costs me about $50 total for all eight of the children.

One of my favorite things is my mother-in-law’s gift.  She donates to Samaritan’s Purse by purchasing a “gift” for a hurting or needy child through the annual Christmas Catalog.  Last year she donated toward rescuing a child out of slavery.  This is something dear to my heart and I was so grateful for this gift.

All of these savings allow us to be able to give to someone in need, which happens all throughout the year.  So, as Christmas changes and our family grows, we want to be sure to keep the focus off of the “stuff” and on our Savior, who calls us to share his love with others and provide for those in need

Amanda is a native of Boone and enjoys saving money in order to help her family and others enrich their lives so that they, in turn, can share with others.  

Naps for my three-year old have ended and since then I have been having quiet a bit of trouble in getting my groove back as far as routine.  I honestly haven’t gotten anything done in weeks. And, If I can help it I really hate to stick my little man in front of the TV for entertainment. Plus, who doesn’t need a little quiet time now and again?  Stop by Pennies and Blessings and check out my new help for mothering, these fabulous quiet time boxes.  My little man is loving them and they are keeping him extra busy.  Now, instead of a bed time battle he can’t wait to have quiet time!

Does your child have croup?  Croup is all over the place in the High Country. We’ve just conquered it without any steroid shots!  Whoot!  Come check out my post at the HighCountryMomSquad and see how you can make your little one feel comfortable during croup.

                                                                                                                                    Photo Credit

Right now, Eversave has one of my favorite offers!  You can get a $25 voucher to Vitacost.com for only $12!  We just love Vitacost for all our personal care needs.  I typically purchase all our soap, shampoo, Cod Liver Oil, Probiotics, children’s vitamins, and some times organic groceries from Vitacost.com.  I love it that they have fabulous prices and that you can get free shipping on an order over $49 or more.  And, if your order is less than $49 the shipping is still a flat rate $5!  This 52% savings a fabulous deal!  Offer expires November 19th at 11:59pm.

If you didn’t catch it on my facebook page, we are excitedly expecting a new little peanut!  This little precious one is due on June 4, 2012.  We are very excited to soon welcome baby #3 into our growing family.  We would appreciate your prayers as we make decisions on a care provider, for our little one to grow healthy and strong, for strength for mommy to be able to keep up with all my peanuts, for God to provide for us a homey place to live in the coming months, and strength to get my births finished for my DONA certification before this little one arrives.

Now that I’ve had two non-medicated hospital births and have educated myself on natural birth knowledge I am searching out the right settings and care providers in the High Country so that I can have a satisfying birth experience.  After finding out about the pregnancy, I took my time looking around and after still not being able to decide on a care provider I decided to see the midwives who deliver at the local hospital.  We will see if I stick it out there or decide to ask someone else to provide my care.  I really have the desire to have more freedom in my birth experience that the hospital just can’t give.  So, I have been looking into free standing birth centers (which would be ideal but there are not any that are very close by) and home births as well.  We will see how things end up (I’ll keep you updated as I continue my search).  If I do have a home birth I would rather not give birth at the home we are renting now, it just doesn’t feel like home.  So, that would of course require us to find another place to rent or finding a place to purchase.  Plus, we also have to take our finances into consideration.  Our insurance will pay 80% in network for the midwife I’m seeing now and the in-town hospital, and if I decide to go with a legally recognized CNM in North Carolina, out-of-network my insurance will provide 60% of expenses.  Of course, the state of North Carolina does not recognize a CPM which is a midwife that is even better trained to give birth at home, so if we choose to go that route all our expenses would be out of pocket.

I did enjoy my visit yesterday, chatting with the midwife there for nearly two hours.  Wow, I had a long appointment and loved the fact that she took plenty of time to meet with me and answer all my question.  After searching out the babies heart beat and giving me my prenatal psychical she mentioned that my uterus seemed a bit bigger than it should be and she said she thought she might have heard two heart beats.   Previously in the conversation I had declined a 10 week ultra sound used to date the baby.  I really didn’t want any unnecessary interventions and felt a 20 week ultra sound would do the little peanut just fine, but when she said all that I told her I better take that 10 week ultra sound so I don’t lay awake at night wondering if there are two babies to name in my belly or just one.

It was really an amazing experience!  I had never seen a 10 week old peanut on an ultra sound before!  Our little sweet thing was only three centimeters long and moving its little arms and legs every which way!  And, there was only one by the way, it would have been a blessing to have two, but phew this mama feels a little bit of relief.  After seeing that photo of God’s precious blessing on the screen I am even more sure that if mamas were required to have an ultra sound before they decided to abort their beautiful little baby surely they would think twice.  It is clearly a teeny tiny little life in my belly (and the average person can’t even tell I’m prego yet!).

Can you see our little peanut? He or she is really about the size of a peanut! 

  We were recently sent Heaven is for Real for Kids: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back from Tommy Nelson.  And, all I can say is wow what a book!  This book is a shortened version of the New York Times best seller Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back.  Another book that I just finished reading and would highly recommend.

From the very first time that we opened the book Heaven is for Real for Kids: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back and read it aloud to my 3 year old son he was mesmerized by all the lovely photos and the story of little Colton who got sick, took a turn for the worse, was carried to heaven by Jesus and lived to tell about it.  I think he asked us to read it to him two more times after we opened it when it arrived in the mail and finished that initial reading.

I think we all have a little bit of curiosity about what heaven is going to be like.  As believers in Christ we believe that we are going to heaven when we die someday, but how much of that is just head knowledge that we think we know but not heart knowledge of something that we truly believe will happen. Heaven is for Real for Kids: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back is a lovely account for children about what heaven will be like.  I especially think this book would be wonderful for children who may have lost a brother or sister, family relative, or who just may have lots of questions about what heaven is like.  I especially love how this book not only talks about heaven but highlights the importance of Jesus in heaven and what it means to have a relationship with God.

I think that this is a wonderful book for every Christian parent to have in their child’s library, it gives glory to God and will renew your heart and spirit about life after death.   My children really love this book and I know that you will too.

I also highly recommend the original version of the book Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back for adults.  Colton’s account is an inspiring account that will help you questions what really is important in life.  It will give you a renewed vision for your relationship with God.  It will inspiring you and give you a picture of what heaven is like.  This book is fairly short and very easy to read (I read it in two days).  I know that you will love it as much as I did.

And Yay, Tommy Nelson has agreed to giveaway one copy of Heaven is for Real for Kids: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back to an Our Peaceful Home reader.  Enter via rafflecopter below… 

Oh my goodness.  I think I am a tea addict.  If I have the choice between tea and coffee I will typically choose tea (unless it is a pumpkin spice latte).  I really do love everything about most teas.  I love the smell of tea, the taste of tea, and just the fact that there are countless teas to choose from.  I love hot tea in the chilly months and I really enjoy keeping iced tea in my fridge during warm months.  I typically don’t take anything in my teas, especially when they are tasty fruit teas that already have a touch of a sweet taste.

So, when MightyLeaf.com asked if they could send me some tea to try out, my answer was yes please!

MightyLeaf.com ‘s banner ad above claims that Tea Drinkers Rave that it’s the “best tea ever” and I’m not sure if I’m willing to dispute that claim.  When it comes to specialty hand-picked flavors and Biodegradable Tea Pouches that contain the tasty tea this tea your senses are sure to be delighted.

MightyLeaf.com sent me a sample pack of three teas designed to be drank hot the Chamomile Citrus which is fabulous for right before bed time, the Green Tea Tropical wonderful for a drizzling afternoon when you’d rather be on a tropical island, and Orange Dulce that would be a tasty, rich, and flavorful breakfast.  The flavor in each one of these teas will relax and calm you.  Ah, don’t the wonderful flavors just sound relaxing?  You can head over to MightyLeaf.com right now and sign up for their email newsletters to receive 15% off tea. 

If there is a tea drinkers in your life they might also be interested in the lovely iced tea flavors that I received like Sunburst Green Tea, Organic Black Tea, Calypso Mango, or the Organic Ginger Peach – which was definitely my favorite of all, it would be a fabulous summer time iced tea to keep in your fridge all year-long!  Oh my goodness, just the thought of these teas make my mouth dance and sing. 

Another great perk is that you can score $5.95 Flat Rate Shipping From MightyLeaf.com! (Continental US only; does not include orders to HI or AK)!!  Whoo hoo!  So find a fellow tea lover where you leave and order together and split the shipping (that’s what I always do when I have to order from companies that have shipping costs to save even a few more bucks.) Or, think about purchasing a few Christmas gits for those tea lovers in your life and check out these Gifts under $25 !

Yay!  Tea Lovers Unite!  MightyLeaf.com has offered one Our Peaceful Home reader a box of of their iced teas and a Bodum Iced Tea Pitcher.  One reader will receive a box each of their new teas a $75 value!

disclosure: MightyLeaf.com sent me some beautiful samples to try, but the opinions are all my own and only influenced by having a lot of fun tasting these teas.  The links above are affiliate links.  If you choose to shop through them I will receive a very small commission and will be blessed by your choice to support Our Peaceful Home.

It’s not difficult to have a greener Halloween!

Stop by the High Country Mom Squad and check out my tips to green your Halloween!

     Have a Safe, Happy, and Healthy Halloween!