The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

No.655: Last Week at the Farmhouse // A Time to Weep & A Time to Laugh

I’m a worker bee.  Give me a goal and I’m off to the races!  2022 has been no exception; I have been intensely focused on the expansion of our farm.  It’s been hard physically and (arguably) harder mentally – I’ve never been more aware of the things I don’t know and need to learn.  And while I love the challenge of big projects and hard work, I also know I’ve been ignoring the telltale signs of exhaustion and burnout.  (Despite creating even more work for myself, ha!)  Life has a way of knocking you back a few notches and forcing you to slow down and change course for awhile.  A few of my kids got sick.  One son starting exhibiting some troubling health issues.  We received the news that a dear family friend passed away in an accident.

This week jolted me back to my first vocation and my eyes back on my family.  I’m now focused on getting them all healthy and holding them tight.  I’m intentionally planning and creating a few frugal summertime adventures.  Work will always be there, especially on a farm, but these people right in front of me are really the most important.  The food forest can wait.

A few other highlights from the week:

I made a few sourdough loaves.  I definitely need a sharper knife for my crust design, but getting closer on “the perfect” loaf.

Lots of new wildflowers!  They are so unique and beautiful.

Our two lady pigs, Phyllis and Fiona, are three weeks away from their Processing Day.  We have enjoyed them so much and will miss them.  Bittersweet.

More progress on the scrap quilt.  It’s turning out to be a little narrower than twin-sized and I’m more than halfway there.

No.654: Five Good Things // No.11

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1 // A SAFER NAIL POLISH

Have you heard of Piggy Paint nail polish?  They are a small business focusing on non-toxic, water-based nail polish.  I stumbled on them while looking for Easter basket ideas for my daughter and ended up buying her this gift set.  She loved it.

2 // STICKERS!

I decided to try Sticker Giant for the first time and was so impressed.  I designed my sticker on Canva and it was a quick process to upload it to the site and order.  I appreciate that they send you a proof before printing so you can see exactly how everything will line up on the sticker.  We picked the matte finish so we could write on them and it was perfect for our needs.  Our chicken looks so professional!

3 // A REUSABLE SWIFFER PAD

With supply chain issues and the rising cost of everything, I’ve been trying to invest in more long term solutions.  And if I can purchase from a small business, it’s a win/win!  My latest find was from the shop, JuniperSeed Mercantile.  I bought a set of washable, reusable Swiffer mop pads and I love them!  Great quality.  (I also purchased their reusable bamboo hankies, but haven’t tried them yet.  They are on the smaller side, but really soft.)

4 // A SWEET TREAT FOR ALL THOSE STRAWBERRIES

It’s strawberry season!  One of our favorite treats is strawberry shortcake and I use this recipe for the biscuits.  Quick, easy and delicious.

5 // EFFECTIVE FRUIT FLY REMOVAL

Having my sourdough on the counter attracts fruit flies, which is so annoying.  Thankfully, I found a nontoxic trap-type thing called Fly Punch and it’s quickly gotten the problem under control.  I bought mine on Grove, but you can also find them on Amazon.

No.653: Homemaking Notes on a Monday // Vol.28

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The weather outside is //

As I look outside my window // There is so much to see!  The summer garden is coming along and wildflowers are popping up all over.  Man, I love this time of year.

As I look around the house // It’s Week 3 of my frugal summer challenge and I think I’m going to focus my efforts in the kitchen.  Homemade bread, tortillas, and freezer waffles are all on the docket, as well as preserving some of the harvest from the spring garden.  I just bought a pressure canner and I’m intimidated but also excited to try it out.

Starting // another new summer project: a “just in case” emergency binder, a place to hold all of our account numbers, passwords and medical information.  My husband and I have talked about making something like this for years!  After looking at a few options, I think I’m going to purchase this printable kit and go from there.

On this week’s to-do list //
– make DIY oyster shells for the hens
– sand and stain the coffee table
– make s’mores dip
– deep clean the school room
– harvest peas
– package and deliver chicken orders
– finish hand quilting the grandmother’s flower garden quilt
– observe the Ember Days

Currently reading // 

On the menu this week //
Monday: Refrigerator Cleanout Night
Tuesday: beef taco salads
Wednesday: breakfast for dinner
Thursday: grilled chicken and potato salad
Friday: bang bang shrimp rice bowls

No.652: Living Intentionally in June

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time.” — John Lubbock

Eating Seasonally 
  • strawberries
  • green beans
  • lettuce
  • kale
  • peas
  • summer squash
  • zucchini
Celebrating the Liturgical Year

The month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  “Understood in the light of the Scriptures, the term ‘Sacred Heart of Jesus’ denotes the entire mystery of Christ, the totality of his being, and his person considered in its most intimate essential: Son of God, uncreated wisdom; infinite charity, principal of the salvation and sanctification of mankind. The ‘Sacred Heart’ is Christ, the Word Incarnate, Saviour, intrinsically containing, in the Spirit, an infinite divine-human love for the Father and for his brothers.” (from here)  Other feast days in June:

  • Charles Lwanga & Companions (3)
  • Pentecost (5)
  • Anthony of Padua (13)
  • Solemnity of Corpus Christi (19)
  • Thomas More (22)
  • Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (24)
  • Immaculate Heart of Mary (25)
  • Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul (29)
Homesteading and Self-Sufficiency 
  • Start raising broiler chickens, part two!
  • Work on a water catchment system for the garden.
  • Design a permanent winter paddock for the pigs.
  • Learn how to use a pressure canner.
  • Bring two pigs to the butcher.
Homemaking 
  • Clean the windows.
  • Pull summer gear out of storage and organize.
  • Wipe down all of the floorboards.
  • Declutter all the things.
Family Fun
  • Celebrate some silly holidays:
    • National Doughnut Day (3)
    • National Yo-Yo Day (6)
    • National Weed Your Garden Day (13)
    • Take a Road Trip Day (17)
    • Go Fishing Day (18)

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