The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

No.541: Five Good Things // No.06

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1 // NEW EMERGENCY CANDLES

We’re always on the lookout for items to add to our power outage supplies and recently bought a bunch of emergency candles from Lehmans.  (Have you ever browsed that website?  I have a huge wish list!)  These taper candles are dripless, smokeless, odorless, and supposedly burn for 12 hours.  The candlemaker is Sunshine Candle Works.

2 // A “POOR MAN’S BERKEY”

This ZeroWater pitcher was recommended to me as a “poor man’s Berkey” and since the price was right, I went for it!  We’ve had it for a few months now and I’m pleased so far.  The water tastes great and since we’re on well water, the filter doesn’t have to work as hard and will (hopefully) last us a long time.

3 // A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA FOR CARE PACKAGES

How cool are these printables from Skip to My Lou?  Sometimes we need a little snail mail inspiration and this is a great solution.

4 // KEEPING COOL ON HOT DAYS

This was another purchase for possible summer power outages, but these cooling towels have also proven helpful for just ordinary hot days!  You dip the towel (which is long and narrow like a scarf) in water, wring it out and it claims to stay cool for up to three hours.  Great for keeping cool while mowing the lawn or working in the garden.

5 // MORTGAGE PAYOFF CALCULATOR

I’ve been super motivated to pay off our mortgage and love to use Dave Ramsey’s calculator for motivation.  You can easily manipulate numbers to see how an extra payment will affect the longevity of the loan.  I especially love seeing how much interest I can decrease!

No.540: Top Ten Tuesday // Books On My Summer 2021 TBR

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I’m three weeks late sharing my picks for Top Ten Tuesday!  Oops.  Here are ten books that are on my radar for the next two months:

1 // Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery
It’s been too long since I’ve visited Anne.  This is the third book in the series and is about her college days.

2 // The Land by Mildred D. Taylor
I didn’t realize that Taylor’s most popular book, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, was actually a part of a series!  This first book is the story of teenager Paul-Edward Logan as he “sets out toward the only dream he has ever had: to find land every bit as good as his father’s, and make it his own.”

3 // All Manner of Things by Susie Finkbeiner
This one is historical fiction during the Vietnam War era.  It looks like it deals with themes like family, grief and hope.

4 // Minding the Manor: The Memoir of a 1930s English Kitchen Maid by Mollie Moran
If I remember correctly, I purchased this memoir during the Downton Abbey craze, but I still haven’t gotten to it.  Who doesn’t love a little upstairs/downstairs insight?

5 // Fair and Tender Ladies by Lee Smith
This one comes from a rave review from someone on Booktube.  I don’t know much about it except that it’s a family saga told in letters.

6 // An Ocean of Minutes by Thea Lim
From the blurb: this is “the love story of two people who are at once mere weeks and many years apart.”  This novel is dystopian and even has time travel, so should be an interesting read.

7 // Dear and Glorious Physician by Taylor Caldwell
I joined a Catholic book club on Goodreads last month and this one was their June pick.  I got as far as the Foreword before my husband snatched it.  Hopefully I can read it this summer too!

8 // True Places by Sonja Yoerg
I have a handful of books on my Kindle that I’ve gotten for free, but never seem to remember to pick up.  (Out of sight, out of mind, I guess?)  The first line of the blurb: “A girl emerges from the woods, starved, ill, and alone…and collapses.”

9 // Your Perfect Year by Charlotte Lucas
One more book from my Kindle!  I’m sure this was an Amazon freebie and sounds like it would make a good summer choice.

10 // The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond by Jaime Jo Wright
This last pick is another recommendation from someone on Booktube.  She raved about Jaime Jo Wright and after my surprise enjoyment of another Christian mystery, I’m anxious to dive in!

No.539: Last Week at the Farmhouse // It’s Hot Out There

The new school year is still seven weeks away, but I feel like I should probably start checking off a few tasks on the list.  So I mailed the letter of intent and testing to the county.  I finalized a curriculum plan, noting the books I already have and jotting down the ones I still need to buy.  I also had my yearly summer freak out session when I panic that I’ll have to teach a high schooler, a middle schooler, three elementary students and one who will definitely demand to participate, even though he’s four.  Every year, I panic and question whether I can adequately educate all of these kids and yet somehow I do.

Currently on my nightstand (affiliate links ahead): The Devotion to the Sacred Heart and Promise by Minrose Gwin.

It is HOT outside, so we try to get our outdoor chores done first thing in the morning.  Our chickens are growing fast – the broilers are already 5 weeks and the hens are 16 weeks.  Our homestead failure story of the week: on Thursday, we let the ladies free range outside of their fencing and they were so thrilled.  By afternoon, they were super brave and spread out on the property (making me nervous).  By early evening, we had a huge, downpour thunder storm so the boys and I ran out to make sure the ladies were back in their coop….and could only find 15 out of the 16.  We looked until the lightning came, but then had to abandon the search.  Unfortunately, she never showed up, so I’m guessing some wild animal must have gotten her.  (Maybe one of those pesky raccoons?)  We’re so bummed that we lost one of our girls.  Obviously, their free range days are over.  Farming, man…it’s not for the faint of heart.

I spent a lot of time in the kitchen (which is a little ridiculous considering how hot it is outside, but whatcha gonna do?): S made her cookie bars again, I made English muffin bread, an ice cream treat from my vintage cookbook, and even experimented with carrot top pesto!

Some of the tabs I’ve had open on my computer:

No.538: A Year of Vintage Recipes // Crispy Sundae Crunch

It wouldn’t be summertime without ice cream!  I searched my Farm Journal’s Country Cookbook and this “delicious make-ahead dessert with ice cream between crisp crusts” seemed easy enough to whip up with the kids.  My picture doesn’t do it justice!  I followed the recipe, but omitted the walnuts and coconut (because…kids) and instead doubled the ingredients for the cereal mixture.  We added a little caramel sauce on top.  Big hit.

Print Recipe

Crispy Sundae Crunch

taken from Farm Journal's Country Cookbook
Course: Dessert
Servings: 9 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp butter
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar firmly packed
  • 1 cup oven-toasted rice cereal crushed
  • ⅓ cup walnuts
  • ⅓ cup flaked coconut
  • 1 qt vanilla ice cream

Instructions

  • Melt butter in a skillet. Add brown sugar and heat slowly, stirring until blended. Add in the crushed rice cereal. Toss well to coat with the butter-sugar mixture. Remove from the heat, then add nuts and coconut.
  • Reserve ⅔ cup of the cereal mixture for topping. Spread the remaining cereal mixture into an 8" square pan. Spread the ice cream on top. Sprinkle the reserved ⅔ cup cereal mixture over the ice cream.
  • Freeze. Cut into squares to serve.

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